HAPPY VALLEY, Calif. (October 12, 2023) – Have you ever wondered what goes into planning and executing a prescribed burning project? Today, we take you behind the scenes into a controlled burn in the Butte County foothills, shedding light on the collaborative efforts that make it all possible.
The Terra Fuego Resource Foundation, based in Chico, took the lead in crafting the burn plan and providing the burn boss. Alongside them, Deer Creek Resources and the Butte County Resource Conservation District (RCD) played pivotal roles in developing the original project layout. The project itself was brought to life under the funding support of the Sierra Nevada Conservancy and the guidance of the Butte County Firesafe Council.
On the day of the burn, Firestorm Wildland Fire stepped in with engines, a dedicated fire crew, and a Burn Boss trainee, bringing their expertise to the field. The California State University, Chico Ecological Reserves contributed a fire engine and its trained crew members, further enhancing the capabilities of the firefighting team.
The Watershed Center, hailing from Hayfork, made an important contribution by providing a fire engine and a two-person crew, thanks to the ‘all hands all lands’ burn crew funding provided by Cal Fire. It’s these joint efforts that make these prescribed burns more effective in safeguarding communities and ecosystems.
Crucially, Higgins Ridge, LLC, the landowner in this case, played a significant role in making this burn a reality. They not only covered a substantial portion of the contracted labor and equipment costs but also ensured that contingency resources and fire-qualified staff were on hand to assist with the burn, further underlining the vital partnership between private landowners and public agencies.
This entire project was captured on video by Lookout, with Zeke Lunder taking on the role of a fire effects monitor and trainer during the operation. Zeke, along with his wife, established Deer Creek Resources (DCR) in 2011, a company that specializes in consulting and mapping work focused on wildfire, water, and forestry issues. Today, Zeke still remains involved with DCR, primarily in planning and prescribed fire projects.
For those interested in learning more about DCR and how they can assist in bolstering wildfire resilience within their communities, a visit to their website can provide valuable insights and opportunities for collaboration.
In a world where wildfire management is a critical concern, it’s these collective efforts, partnerships, and the dedication of organizations like Terra Fuego Resource Foundation, Deer Creek Resources, and the various other contributors that make a difference, one controlled burn at a time.
Reporting from the heart of Butte County, California, this is Cris Alarcon for Placerville Newswire, bringing you insights into the incredible work that goes into managing our natural landscapes and safeguarding our communities.
The Tahoe Fire & Fuels Team is scheduled to continue fall prescribed fire operations this week, conditions and weather permitting. California State Parks is scheduled to continue understory burning through Oct. 20, 2023, in Burton Creek and Sugar Pine Point state parks and the USDA Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit may continue burning piles on Angora Ridge near Fallen Leaf Lake and on Echo Summit near Echo Lakes through Oct. 13. Smoke will be present. For the current air quality index, visit AirNow and view the prescribed fire map with project details at Tahoe Living With Fire.
Historically, low-intensity wildfires ignited by lightning or native peoples routinely burned through fire-adapted ecosystems of the Sierra Nevada. These low-intensity fires burned at low temperatures and moved slowly across the ground removing forest debris such as pinecones, needles, limbs, dead and downed trees, and ladder fuels. Watch the Forest Service video for an in-depth explanation of low-intensity fire. Prescribed fires are meant to mimic these naturally occurring low-intensity fires that are essential to fire-adapted ecosystems.
Prescribed fire managers use different methods to remove excess vegetation (fuels) and reintroduce low-intensity fire into forests through pile, broadcast, and understory burning. Pile burning involves burning slash piles that are constructed by hand or mechanical equipment. Broadcast and understory burning use low-intensity fire to remove fuels under specific environmental conditions with fire confined to a predetermined area.
Prescribed fires are a vital forest management tool used by land managers to help protect communities by removing fuels that can feed unwanted wildland fires. Burning excess vegetation also benefits forest health by making room for new growth which provides forage for wildlife, recycles nutrients back into the soil and helps reduce the spread of insects and disease.
Prescribed fires may take place any time of year when conditions are favorable. Fall and winter typically bring cooler temperatures and precipitation, which are ideal for conducting prescribed fire operations. Each operation follows a specialized burn plan, which considers smoke dispersal conditions, temperature, humidity, wind, and vegetation moisture. All this information is used to decide when and where to burn.
The TFFT strongly supports the use of prescribed fire under appropriate conditions and works closely with air quality districts to avert smoke impacts on the public. Smoke from prescribed fires is normal and may continue for several days after an ignition depending on the project size, conditions, and weather. Prescribed fire smoke is generally less intense and of much shorter duration than smoke produced by unwanted wildfires. View smoke management tips.
Prior to prescribed fire ignitions, agencies coordinate closely with local and state air quality agencies to monitor weather for favorable conditions that can disperse smoke, conduct test burns before igniting larger areas to verify how well vegetation is consumed and how smoke rises and disperses before proceeding, post signs on roadways in areas affected by prescribed fire operations, email notifications to the prescribed fire notification list, and update the local fire information line at 530-543-2816. The TFFT gives as much advance notice as possible before burning, but some operations may be conducted on short notice due to the small window of opportunity for implementing these projects.
To be added to the prescribed fire notification list, send us an email. Learn more about living in fire-adapted ecosystems at Tahoe Living With Fire and get prepared, get informed, and get involved.
