Fall prescribed fire season to begin end of September, weather conditions permitting
Eureka, Calif., September 26, 2024—The Six Rivers National Forest is planning to conduct multiple prescribed fires throughout the fall to reduce the risk of wildfires. The low- to medium-intensity burns also create healthier, more diverse, and more resilient forests that can better support wildlife.
When?
The dates for the burns and the actual number of units burned will depend upon weather conditions. Burning days are changeable because the proper conditions are needed- wind and relative humidity are key factors in fire behavior, safety, and smoke control. Prescribed burning will only occur when environmental conditions permit. During the burns, proper personnel and equipment will be on site and some roads and trails may be closed to ensure safety.
Did You Know?
All prescribed burns are thoroughly planned and analyzed by a team of specialists to minimize potential impacts to wildlife, fisheries, rare plants, and historic sites. Habitat for a variety of wildlife species can be improved through carefully planned and executed prescribed burns. Regular burns promote the growth of plants that provide food for wildlife including important game animals such as deer and elk.
Prescribed burning is an important and versatile forest management tool that can mimic natural fire disturbances and reduce underbrush and flammable vegetation, which is key to limiting wildfire risk.
Smoke from prescribed fire operations is normal and may continue for several days after an ignition depending on the project size, conditions, and weather. Prescribed fire smoke is generally less intense and of much shorter duration than smoke produced by wildfires.
Operations may include the use of an air curtain burner to burn piles. An air curtain burner’s primary function is to serve as a pollution control device that reduces emission from burn piles by 80 percent. The air curtain burner can consume up 7 tons of fuel per hour increasing efficiency and reducing smoke impacts to the local communities.
The Six Rivers National Forest will issue notifications prior to burn implementation. Notifications will be posted to the forest website and Facebook page.
Projects and Partners
Below are the planned prescribed fire projects for each district including a list of our partners that help make these burns possible. The Six Rivers National Forest and our partners work closely to plan and implement many of these projects across the forest. Thank you all for your support and hard work in reducing the risk of wildfires and creating a healthier forest!
Orleans Ranger District Project Areas:
Orleans Community Protection Plan
Roots and Shoots Project
Leary Project
Red Salmon Suppression Repair piles
Ukonom Ranger District Project Areas:
WKRP Somes Bar Integrated Fire Management Project
McCash Suppression Repair piles
Partners: Western Klamath Restoration Partnership (including members from the Karuk Tribe, Mid Klamath Watershed Council, Orleans-Somes Bar Fire Safe Council, Salmon River Restoration Council, The Nature Conservancy Fire Learning Network, Klamath Forest Alliance, Environmental Protection Information Center, University of California Berkeley, Bureau of Indian Affairs, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Environmental Protection Agency, and US Fish and Wildlife Service.
Lower Trinity Ranger District Project Areas:
Waterman Ridge Project
Happy Camp Mtn Project
Red Salmon Suppression Repair
Monument Suppression Repair
Roots and Shoots
Plantation Thin
2022 Lightning Complex
Partners: Grant funding for Waterman Fuels Project from Pacific Gas & Electric Fuels Reduction Program.
Smith River NRA-Gasquet Ranger District Project Areas:
Gordon Hill Project
Elk Camp Fuelbreak Project
Little Jones Creek Project
Slater Fire Footprint
Big Flat Project
Smith River Complex Fire Footprint
Coon Mountain Meadow Restoration Project
Partners: Smith River Collaborative (including members from Del Norte County, Friends of Del Norte, Klamath Forest Alliance, EPIC (Environmental Protection Information Center), KS Wild, Smith River Alliance, the Elk Valley Rancheria, the Tolowa Dee-ni’ Nation, the Del Norte Fire Safe Council, the American Forest Resource Council, the CA Forestry Association, and CAL FIRE-Humboldt Del Norte Unit.
Mad River Ranger District Project Areas:
Mad Ridge Fuel Break
D70 Project
August Complex Restoration Project
Administrative Piles
Partners: Southern Trinity Volunteer Fire Department (STVFD), Trinity County Collaborative Group, Watershed Research and Training Center (WRTC), and Native Health in Native Hands (NHNH).
Photo: U.S. Forest Service firefighter conducting prescribed fire operations on the Ukonom Ranger District. USDA Forest Service photo by Brittany Patterson. June 2023.