BLM to reduce wildland fire risk to communities near the King Range National Conservation Area
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ARCATA, Calif. – Fire crews from the Bureau of Land Management will be conducting a prescribed burn this month near the community of Petrolia in the King Range National Conservation Area. Burning in the Prosper Ridge Project will take place only when conditions allow for safe and successful burning.
Crews plan to ignite large piles of brush and small trees from Mon to Tues., Jan. 11 to 12, and Tues. to Thurs., Jan. 18 to 20, within a 75-acre project area. Work began on the project last fall. The piles will be ignited in accordance with a detailed burn plan that specifies allowable weather and fuel conditions and required personnel. Crews will patrol the burn areas on days following ignition.
“This pile burning is part of an ongoing project to reduce hazardous fuels and wildfire risk in the wildland urban interface, which is the area where homes are adjacent to public lands,” said Tom Bickauskas, acting manager of the BLM Arcata Field Office. “The project is designed to restore the character and resilience of these coastal grassland prairies, in part by removing encroaching trees. We plan to establish a regular cycle of prescribed burning to meet these objectives.”
Smoke will be visible from Petrolia, the Mattole Campground, residences along Petrolia Road and Mattole Road and from parts of the Lost Coast Trail. Moderate residual smoke will be visible for up to three days after the piles are burned.
The King Range is one of 17 National Conservation Areas where the BLM works closely with communities and partners to provide outstanding opportunities for recreation and conservation of significant natural and cultural resources. Information on the project is available by contacting the BLM Arcata Field Office at 707-825-2300.
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.