Pile Burning Planned on Plumas National Forest Starting Tuesday

QUINCY — Firefighters on the Plumas National Forest Beckwourth and Mount Hough Ranger Districts plan to start pile burning operations tomorrow at three locations, conditions permitting.

On the Beckwourth Ranger District, firefighters plan to treat approximately 388 acres of handpiles in the Mohawk Vista project near Blairsden. Ignitions are expected to start around 9 a.m. tomorrow and continue through Thursday if weather conditions allow.

The goal is to treat approximately 40 acres before a winter storm is forecasted to enter the area late Tuesday night. Predicted snow is expected to help pile burning conditions Wednesday. Operations Thursday may be affected by snow.

Smoke is expected to be visible from Blairsden, Graeagle and the surrounding area in Mohawk Valley, but is not expected to have significant long-term impacts to nearby communities.

On the Mount Hough Ranger District, firefighters are planning to treat piles near Keddie and in Butterfly Valley. Three piles at the Cascade Trailhead near Keddie are expected to be ignited tomorrow, with burning expected to be completed by the end of the day.

Approximately 300 acres of piles in Butterfly Valley are planned to be treated, with ignitions starting tomorrow and continuing through Wednesday.

Treatments in this area are a continuation of pile burning and underburning in recent years as part of fuel reduction to help further secure the evacuation route for residents in Butterfly Valley. Plumas County Fire Safe Council is helping fund the operation this week, with work being done by firefighters from the Plumas National Forest and Firestorm Wildland Fire Suppression, Inc.

Smoke is expected to be visible from Butterfly Valley, Quincy and Keddie, but is not expected to have significant long-term impacts to nearby communities.

Short duration, minor smoke impacts are expected in Blairsden, Graeagle, Butterfly Valley, Keddie, Quincy, along California State Highways 70 and 89, and neighboring forest roads. Visibility on roads in the project areas may be reduced, especially early in the morning and late evening as smoke settles.

There will be increased firefighting equipment traffic in the areas mentioned. Drivers in the area should use caution, watch for fire equipment exiting and entering area roadways, and possible slow traffic.

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 the entire operation.

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