Sierra National Forest Teakettle Experimental Forest Prescribed Burn
Credit: USFS
October 29, 2017 - Prather, CA. – The Sierra National Forest began the Teakettle Experimental Forest prescribed burn Monday October 23, 2017. This is a Research burn located in the Teakettle Experimental Range, where UC Davis has been monitoring the effects of fire over the past 20 years.
Monday crews began firing operations on the upper unit, to treat the first 66 acres of 168 planned acres. Fire behavior has been good over the last couple days, meeting the objectives per research requirements. However, the influence from last Friday’s .30” of rainfall in the area is starting to wear off as a high pressure/heat wave is drying things out quickly. So, over the next couple of days crews will spend time monitoring and securing the 66 acre upper burn unit. Next week is supposed to bring a cool down of about 10-15 degrees, when we can resume firing operations on the remaining 102 acre unit.
For information on the Teakettle prescribed fire contact District Fuels Specialist Adam Hernandez at 559-855-5355 ext. #3354.
Sierra National Forest reports three lightning caused fires have burned a total of 74 acre
Sierra National Forest Fire Managers report that a lightning-caused wildfire on August 3rd near Crown Rock of the John Muir Wilderness has increased this week due to warmer and dryer temperatures. Currently it is approximately 60 acres in size.
"The Crown fire is spreading mostly through ground fuels in this remote part of the Wilderness,” stated District Ranger Ray Porter. The current approach is to manage this fire for resource benefit and to limit firefighter exposure and risk. The containment strategy will utilize existing trails and natural barriers which will keep the fire within the planned area. Managed, natural application of fire in this area will decrease heavy dead and downed materials on the forest floor and promote a healthy and resilient forest.
“This strategy, combined with the current low intensity fire behavior, is important to a healthy forest and will provide our firefighters the highest probability of safety and a successfully managed fire,” stated Brian Vasquez Crown fire Incident Commander.
Two additional lightning-caused wildfires from late August have also flared up over this past week due to warmer and dryer temperatures, the Cow Fire at 12 acre’s and the Roger’s Fire which is holding at two acres, both fires are burning with low intensity and at a minimal rate of spread. For information on the Crown, Cow and Roger’s Fires contact Assistant District Fire Management Officer, Brian Vasquez at 559-855-5355 ext. #3366.
Smoke impacts to lower elevations should be minimal however, drift smoke to the east may impact the Inyo National Forest and surrounding communities. Visitors can learn more about air quality and smoke by visiting either www.airnow.gov or www.valleyair.org
Sierra National Forest Teakettle Experimental Forest Prescribed Burn
Credit: USFS
Source: Sierra National Forest
