The BLM to conduct pile-burning operations in Mono County
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BRIDGEORT, Calif. – Wildland fire crews from the Bureau of Land Management Bishop Field Office are planning winter pile-burning operations with inter-agency partners for south of Bridgeport, Mono County, when weather and air quality conditions permit. Pile-burning operations can begin as early as Thursday, December 6.
Slash piles, composed of limbs, branches and trees will be burned on approximately 370-acres of BLM-administered public lands at several locations in the Green Creek, Mormon Meadows, and Bridgeport Canyon areas. Prescribed burning helps to reduce hazardous fuels, moderate the potential negative effects of wildland fire, and increase firefighter and public safety.
During burn operations, smoke may be visible from Bridgeport, Conway Summit, Conway Ranch Estates, Mono City, Lee Vining, June Mountain, U.S. Route 395 and Virginia Lakes Road. The BLM is requesting the public to avoid congregating on or near roadways, which can obstruct fire equipment and emergency vehicles.
The BLM is committed to keeping public lands healthy and productive. These prescribed burns are part of a larger strategy to improve sagebrush habitat conditions throughout the Bodie Hills. Trees have been cut and piled in historically open sagebrush areas to increase ecosystem resiliency and restore habitat for several species, including sage grouse and migratory mule deer. All prescribed fire operations are conducted in close coordination with the Great Basin Unified Air Pollution Control District.
Updates on burn activities will be available on BLM California’s social media sites. For more information, please call Heather Stone at the Bishop Field Office, 760-872-5000.
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.