Prescribed Fire Operations Continue This Week on the Lake Tahoe West Shore

U.S. Forest Service fuels management crews will begin prescribed fire operations south of Homewood on the West Shore of Lake Tahoe on Monday, December 9, 2013. Crews will burn approximately five to 10 acres per day on the south side of Meeks Meadow near Meeks Bay Avenue. Weather and conditions permitting, operations will continue through the week and possibly the weekend. In addition, operations will continue on lower Kingsbury Grade near Meadow Lane. Crews have completed five acres and will continue to burn until they complete the 19 acre unit.

Smoke from these prescribed fire project areas can be expected, is normal, and may continue for several days after the initial ignition. All prescribed fires are monitored regularly for burning and smoke dispersal and action is taken to mitigate concerns as they arise.

The Forest Service makes every effort to conduct prescribed fire operations during weather patterns that carry smoke away from communities. Smoke-sensitive residents should consider staying indoors and keeping doors, windows and outside vents closed. This past summer’s wildfires serve as a reminder of the importance of fuels reduction and that smoke produced during a prescribed fire is less intense and of shorter duration than that of a wildfire. For more information on prescribed fire and smoke management tips, visit http://www.fs.usda.gov/goto/ltbmu/RxFireOps.

Forest Service staff will post road signs around the areas affected by the 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.

To learn more about the efforts to reduce wildfire risks in the Tahoe Basin read the Lake Tahoe Basin Multi-jurisdictional Fuel Reduction Plan found at http://fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fsm9_045864.pdf.

Visit an excellent web site and learn about Prescribed Fire vs. Wildfire at: http://www.smokeybear.com/prescribed-fires.asp.