Pile burning planned this week near Janesville Grade on Plumas National Forest

JANESVILLE, Calif., October 25, 2025 — Firefighters on the Plumas National Forest Beckwourth Ranger District plan to conduct pile burning operations this week on the Bootsole Project located near the top of the Janesville Grade, conditions permitting.

Approximately 493 acres of piles are planned for treatment with ignitions expected to start tomorrow, Sunday, October 26, and continue through Tuesday.  Firefighters may continue additional ignitions through the week depending on conditions.

Smoke is expected to be visible from U.S. Highway 395 between Susanville and Herlong Junction, including the communities of Janesville, Milford and the surrounding area, as well as from Antelope Lake Recreation Area.  But it is not expected to have significant long-term impacts to nearby communities.

Short duration, minor smoke impacts are expected along Janesville Grade and neighboring forest roads.  Visibility on roads in the project area may be reduced, especially early in the morning and late evening as smoke settles.

There will be increased firefighting equipment traffic in the area.  Drivers should use caution, watch for fire equipment exiting and entering area roadways, and possible slow traffic.  This includes beginning and end of day at the intersection with U.S. Highway 395 and Janesville Grade.

The Bootsole Project is part of critical fuel reduction in the green forest between the Dixie Fire and Beckwourth Complex burn scars. Work in this project area helps protect resources and local communities, including Janesville and Milford.

Area residents and visitors planning to recreate in the area, including hunting and fishing, are asked to be aware of their surroundings, be prepared for possible short-term smoke and reduced visibility, and to watch for vehicle traffic and firefighters working near roads.

If weather conditions become unfavorable, including increased or gusty winds in the area, burning will stop until conditions improve. Firefighters will be monitoring conditions throughout operations.

For more information on the Plumas National Forest, visit www.fs.usda.gov/plumas or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/USFSPlumas.

About the Forest Service: The USDA Forest Service has for more than 100 years brought people and communities together to answer the call of conservation.  Grounded in worldclass science and technology and rooted in communities, the Forest Service connects people to nature and to each other.  The Forest Service cares for shared natural resources in ways that promote lasting economic, ecological and social vitality.  The agency manages 193 million acres of public land, provides assistance to state and private landowners, maintains the largest wildland fire and forestry research organizations in the world.  The Forest Service also has either a direct or indirect role in stewardship of about 900 million forested acres within the U.S., of which over 130 million acres are urban forests where most Americans live.

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