BLM preparing to maintain fuels treatment projects along the Sierra Front
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CARSON CITY, Nev. - The Bureau of Land Management, Carson City District, is preparing to conduct maintenance treatment on previously constructed fuelbreaks on BLM administered lands along the Sierra Front. Periodic retreatment is required in order to maintain fuelbreak effectiveness, resulting in enhanced public and firefighter safety and reduced risk of wildfire damage to area residences. Treatment operations are scheduled for October and November 2019 and will be completed during daylight hours up to seven days a week, excluding holidays.
The treatment areas are Silver Knolls, Lemmon Valley and New Washoe in Washoe County; North Carson, Deer Run and Mexican Dam in Carson City; Virginia Highlands in Storey County; and Sunrise Pass Road in Douglas County.
Maintenance treatment will involve mechanical mowing, similar to the original treatments, chipping and scattering brush to break up areas where fire could spread quickly within the treatment units in order to reduce potential fire intensity. Land adjacent to many residential developments along the Sierra Front is public land administered by the BLM. Vegetation adjacent to many residential developments is highly flammable and under warm, dry, and windy weather conditions the risk of intense damaging wildfire is high.
Homeowners living in high fire hazard locations should learn how to prepare themselves, their homes, and the landscape where they reside to survive wildfire. The “Living with Fire” website, http://www.livingwithfire.info provides excellent information in terms of what to do before the fire starts, during the fire and after the fire.
For more information about the fuels maintenance treatment, contact Tim Roide, Supervisory Fire Management Specialist, 775-885-6185, troide@blm.gov.
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.