BLM plans prescribed fire projects in Lassen County
SUSANVILLE, Calif. – Fire crews from the Bureau of Land Management Eagle Lake Field Office will conduct prescribed burns to reduce hazardous fuels in north of Eagle Lake in Lassen County, beginning Tuesday, Oct 22, and continuing through November 30. Projects will occur only when weather and fuel conditions allow for safe and successful burning.
The Bald Understory Project consists of three burn areas totaling about 500 acres on public lands in the Cleghorn Road area. The first phase will be a carefully managed broadcast burn of 150 to 300 acres just west of the Grasshopper area along State Route 139. Smoke will be visible from the vicinity of Eagle Lake and to motorists along the route 139 and U. S. Highway 395. Other burns will follow.
“The prescribed burns in this project will help reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire associated with high fuel loading. They will improve firefighter safety and effectiveness in the event of a wildfire,” said Emily Ryan, manager of the BLM Eagle Lake Field Office in Susanville. “These burns will also help prevent wildfire damages to natural resources and help protect communities within the Wildland Urban Interface, where homes are near public lands. The project will also improve wildlife habitat and livestock grazing conditions.”
The BLM conducts prescribed burns conforming to plans that specify allowable weather and fuel conditions, and the personnel and equipment required.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.