BLM to conduct prescribed fire at Lake Mathews Reserve
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Moreno Valley, Calif. – Fire crews from the California Desert Interagency Fire Program will treat up to twenty acres of public lands with prescribed fire in the Lake Mathews-Estelle Mountain Stephens’ Kangaroo Rat (SKR) Reserve in western Riverside County.
The prescribed fire will occur on one day between Tuesday, May 19 and Friday, May 22, between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., when specific weather conditions allow for safe, successful burning and smoke dispersion conditions are present. During the burn, smoke may be visible from the community of Lake Mathews and the cities of Corona, Perris, and Riverside, as well as State Route 91 and Interstate 15 freeways.
Fire crews will use prescribed fire to remove dead vegetation, which left untreated could feed and intensify a wildfire. Crews will patrol and extinguish smoldering fuels and the prescribed fire will be extinguished by the end of the day. The burn will also provide a live fire training opportunity for firefighters to practice suppression techniques, such as line construction and hose lays, and give them time to observe fire behavior, providing a glimpse of the conditions the approaching season may bring.
The BLM is committed to keeping public landscapes healthy and productive and the prescribed fire is part of an ongoing restoration effort. The Reserve encompasses approximately 15,000 acres and is cooperatively managed by the BLM, the Riverside County Habitat Conservation Agency, the El Sobrante Landfill, and the Metropolitan Water District. In addition to the Stephens’ kangaroo rat, the Reserve is home to the endangered coastal California gnatcatcher and several additional sensitive species.
The California Desert Interagency Fire Program includes Bureau of Land Management and National Park Service firefighting resources that cover Death Valley National Park, Mojave National Preserve, Joshua Tree National Park and BLM’s California Desert District. As an interagency unit, fire personnel share responsibilities and equipment to effectively manage the California Desert Fire Program.
Additional information is available by contacting the BLM fuels specialist James Gannon at 951-697-5307.
For more BLM information regarding wildfire prevention, contact: California Desert District Office 951-697-5200; Barstow Field Office, 760-252-6000; El Centro Field Office, 760-337-4400; Needles Field Office, 760-326-7000; Palm Springs-South Coast Field Office, 760-833-7100; or Ridgecrest Field Office, 760- 384-5400.
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.