Sierra National Forest - Credit: Sierra National Forest
April 22, 2017 - Clovis CA.– The Sierra National Forest, Bass Lake Ranger District, Fuels and Fire Management staff are planning to ignite a prescribed burn on the Source Kinsman Fuels Project on Saturday April 22, 2017. Using the advantage of favorable weather conditions, extra fire personnel and equipment will be committed to the project until the treatment is extinguished as burn days permit.
Ignitions for this prescribed burn project will be 1 to 3 days in duration. The treatment area planned will consist of 200 acres in total, this project is composed of bulldozer crushed 30 year old chaparral fuels. It will be staffed with fire engines and crews from the Sierra National Forest (SNF) plus a contracted crew. The current conditions (grass green up and increased live fuel moistures in surrounding brush fields) are very conducive to this type of burning to safely accomplish the objectives with minimal risk of escape.
This type of burn is used to improve the wildlife habitat for deer and wild turkey. Also to reduce fuel hazards around the Kinsman Flat area. This area provides forage and hiding cover for wildlife, and is a key winter deer range for the San Joaquin River Deer herd. This project is focused on safely removing fuels to reduce fire hazard and risk in the summer months.
This area has been treated with these types of burns first beginning in the 1950’s and again in the late 1970’s taking advantage of these same types of conditions. The project was planned using the documented experience gained from these past burns.
For questions or concerns please contact Gloria Smith, Fuels Specialist, Bass Lake Ranger District, Sierra National Forest District at (559) 877-2218 ex. 3103.
Smoke from the Kinsman Project may impact the Big Creek drainage and Cascadel Wood’s area in the coming days and may be visible from the valley floor. For additional information on smoke conditions and health effects, visit https://www.airnow.gov.
Source: Sierra National Forest
