The Shasta-Trinity National Forest is planning prescribed burns to support healthy & resilient forests

Release Date: 

Contact(s): Kimberly Hill


Redding, Calif., (Sept. 27, 2024)—The Shasta-Trinity National Forest plans to initiate prescribed fire operations this fall and winter, as weather patterns shift to cooler temperatures and wetter conditions.

Prescribed fire is a tool that uses fire under planned ignitions to mimic the natural role of fire in the environment. Without these planned ignitions, hazardous fuels can build up and carry wildfire from the forest floor to tree canopies, creating extreme fire behavior that poses risk to firefighters, surrounding communities and natural resources.

Landscapes can be rejuvenated through prescribed burning. Management tools like prescribed fire can promote the long-term growth of trees and improve stand health by removing unwanted, non-native and over-saturated plant species. Restoring fire regimes through prescribed fire can also benefit plants and animals that have evolved with fire on the landscape.

“Prescribed fire is an important tool used to meet management objectives for ecological restoration, creating habitat for plants and animals, and reducing unwanted fuel loading,” said Deputy Fire Management Officer for Fuels Dan Ostmann. “Before forest employees implement any prescribed fire activity, appropriate weather and fuel moisture conditions must be met.”

Forest personnel closely monitor prescribed burns. Staff analyze current forest fuel-moisture, drought conditions, and local weather for the most favorable conditions to meet prescribed burning objectives. Weather is an essential tool for planning and implementation of prescribed fires. Wind speed and direction, temperature, relative humidity, and measurable moisture in vegetation are all taken into consideration prior to initiating any burning activities.

In the coming months, forest visitors and surrounding communities may see or smell smoke from prescribed fire activities. These projects may have some short-term impacts on air quality levels and the Forest Service works closely with county air quality control agencies when planning prescribed fires. Neighboring wildland fires can increase smoke production.

Areas, where prescribed fire is planned, include:

Mt. Shasta and McCloud areas: Underburns at Hwy 89-McCloud, Harris, McBride, Snowman’s. Hand piles on Lower McCloud (Ah-Di-Na Rd. and Bear Trap Creek Rd), McCloud Falls, Mt. Shasta I-Zone and South Fork (Castle Lake). Machine Piles on Harris. Landing piles on Azalea, Bottom, East Power, Esperanza, McFalls, North McBride, North Porcupine Sandy, South McBride, Tank, Walsh.

Shasta Lake area: Broadcast burns on Northwoods, Lakehead, Lakehead Uno, Sugarloaf, and hand piles on Gregory Creek, Silverthorne Salt, Hirz.

Weaverville and Big Bar area: Broadcast burns on East Weaver, West Weaver, Five Cent, Hatchery and Glennison Gap. Machine/hand piles on TPFHRS Clark Creek, Lake Forest Plantations Ranier, Pettijohn Fuels, Carr/Delta Suppression Repair, Deep Fire Suppression Repair, West Weaver. 

Hayfork, Hyampom, Platina, and Trinity Pines: Underburns on Harrison Gulch Compound and Ewing Site Prep.  Machine piles on Trinity IRSC East Texas, Trinity IRSC Red Mountain Forest Glen site prep, Monument Suppression Repair Machine Piles Oak Ridge and Blue Point. Hand piles on Kellogg Fuel Break Maintenance and Telephone Dozer Line Machine Piles Suppression Repair. Landing piles on Gemmill Timber Sale 

Specific project location information will be available online at the Shasta-Trinity National Forest - Home (usda.gov). Specific prescribed fire announcements will be posted at local Ranger District Offices, on the forest website, and through additional press releases with maps.

For more information, please call Kimberly Hill, Public Affairs Officer, Shasta-Trinity National Forest (209) 768-0759 kimberly.hill2@usda.gov

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