Prescribed burns to take place on urban lots in Lake Tahoe basin

The U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit will begin the fall/winter prescribed fire program this week. Operations may take place tomorrow, October 16, 2014, on various urban lots around the Lake Tahoe Basin including Elizabeth Drive on the West Shore, Christmas Valley, Angora Creek, Elks Club Drive, Echo View Estates, and Bakersfield Avenue on the South Shore.

Fall and winter bring cooler temperatures and precipitation, which favor prescribed burning. Each operation follows a prescribed fire burn plan, which considers temperature, humidity, wind, moisture of the vegetation, and conditions for the dispersal of smoke. This information is used to decide when and where to burn. The Forest Service tries to give as much advance notice as possible before burning, but some operations may be conducted on short notice.

Smoke from prescribed fire operations is normal and may continue for several days after an ignition depending on the project size. Forest Service staff coordinate with state and local county air pollution control districts and monitor weather conditions closely prior to prescribed fire ignition. They wait for favorable conditions that will carry smoke up and out of the Basin. Crews also conduct test burns before igniting a larger area, to verify how effectively fuels are consumed how smoke will travel.

Before prescribed fire operations are conducted, Forest Service staff post road signs around areas affected by prescribed fire, send email notifications and update the local fire information line at 530-543-2600, #6. To receive prescribed fire notifications, send an email to pa_ltbmu@fs.fed.us. For more information on prescribed fire and smoke management tips, visit our website at http://www.fs.usda.gov/goto/ltbmu/RxFireOps.

Project information:

Project Name: Timberland ULM
Agency Contact: John Washington (530) 543-2652
Legal Location: T14/15N, R16E, Sec 25
Descriptive Location: Elizabeth Drive, north of Tahoma
Type of burn: Hand Piles
Total Acreage: 26.02
Planned Ignition 10/16/2014 thru 10/19/2014 as conditions permit
Duration of Ignition and Smoke Production: 5 days of burn down time

Estimated Direction of Smoke Travel: Northeast

Communities or Smoke Sensitive Areas: Smoke may be visible from Tahoma and surrounding communities.

Project Name: South Upper Truckee
Agency Contact: John Washington (530) 543-2652
Legal Location: T11N R18E sec 8, 17, 5
Descriptive Location: Christmas Valley, Meyers, CA
Type of burn: Hand Piles
Total Acreage: 15
Planned Ignition 10/16/2014 thru 10/17/2014 as conditions permit
Duration of Ignition and Smoke Production: 1 days of burn down time

Estimated Direction of Smoke Travel: Northeast

Communities or Smoke Sensitive Areas: Smoke may be visible from Meyers and surrounding communities.

Project Name: Echo View ULM
Agency Contact: John Washington (530) 543-2652
Legal Location: 12N, R18E, Sec 18
Descriptive Location: Sawmill Pond, Meyers, CA
Type of burn: Hand Piles
Total Acreage: 1.32
Planned Ignition 10/17/2014 thru 10/18/2014 as conditions permit
Duration of Ignition and Smoke Production: 1 days of burn down time

Estimated Direction of Smoke Travel: Northeast

Communities or Smoke Sensitive Areas: Smoke may be visible from South Lake Tahoe, Meyers and surrounding communities.

Project Name: Angora Creek ULM
Agency Contact: John Washington (530) 543-2652
Legal Location: 12N, 18E, 18
Descriptive Location: Angora Creek, near Lake Tahoe Boulevard
Type of burn: Hand Piles
Total Acreage: 17.84
Planned Ignition 10/16/2014 thru 10/18/2014 as conditions permit
Duration of Ignition and Smoke Production: 2 days of burn down time

Estimated Direction of Smoke Travel: Northeast

Communities or Smoke Sensitive Areas: Smoke may be visible from South Lake Tahoe, Meyers and surrounding communities.

Project Name: Bakersfield ULM
Agency Contact: John Washington (530) 543-2652
Legal Location: T12N, R18, 30
Descriptive Location: Bakersfield Street, near Lake Baron
Type of burn: Hand Piles
Total Acreage: 3.72
Planned Ignition 10/16/2014 thru 10/17/2014 as conditions permit
Duration of Ignition and Smoke Production: 1 days of burn down time

Estimated Direction of Smoke Travel: Northeast

Communities or Smoke Sensitive Areas: Smoke may be visible from Meyers and surrounding communities.

Project Name: Elks Club
Agency Contact: John Washington (530) 543-2652
Legal Location: T12N, R18E, Sec 21
Descriptive Location: Waverly Drive, off of Elks Club Road
Type of burn: Hand Piles
Total Acreage: 3.12
Planned Ignition 10/17/2014 thru 10/18/2014 as conditions permit
Duration of Ignition and Smoke Production: 1 day of burn down time

Estimated Direction of Smoke Travel: Northeast

Communities or Smoke Sensitive Areas: Smoke may be visible from South Lake Tahoe, Meyers and surrounding communities.