BLM controlled burns reduce wildland fire risk near Lake Isabella
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LAKE ISABELLA, Calif. — The Bureau of Land Management Bakersfield Field Office fire crews plan to improve the fire resiliency along Erskine Creek Road. Pile burn operations near Lake Isabella in Kern County is scheduled to start Saturday, April 1, and continue periodically through spring, depending on weather and air quality conditions, onsite observations and resource availability.
Prescribed fire is part of BLM California’s fuels reduction efforts to strategically thin downed hazard trees; eliminate dangerous ladder fuels, which can feed flames to the treetops; and remove overgrown brush and branches. The controlled burns will help increase protection of the wildland-urban interface for the community of Lake Isabella as well as improve landscape health. Pile burning is done in the wetter months to take advantage of cooler temperatures and higher moisture levels to prevent the spread of wildland fire.
“This pile burn is a coordinated effort between BLM, Kern County Search and Rescue and the Sequoia National Forest,” said Bakersfield Field Manager Gabriel Garcia. “The Kern County SAR volunteers created the piles and our fire staff from Southfork Fire Station will conduct the burning.”
The pile area is approximately two acres in size and consists of left over fuels from suppression efforts that took place during the Erskine Fire in 2016. Smoke will be visible from the communities of Lake Isabella, Bodfish, Wofford Heights, and Kernville California through Friday, April 28. Signs will be posted in and adjacent to the burn area.
The BLM is committed to keeping public landscapes healthy and productive. Learn how to help protect the community by creating defensible space. Updates will be provided using the #RxBurn hashtag through BLM California social media accounts on Facebook and Twitter. For more information, please call the BLM Bakersfield Field Office at 661-391-6000.
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.