Dinkey South understory spring prescribed fire
Credit: Sierra National Forest
May 12, 2018 - Prather, CA. - Fire Managers on the High Sierra Ranger District are planning ignitions for 350 acres of the Dinkey South prescribed burn. This understory burning will begin in the months of May and early June. Using the advantage of favorable weather conditions, ignitions will begin where they ended this past fall, after 400 acres were successfully treated.
Fire personnel and equipment will be committed to this project until the treatment is extinguished as burn days permit. The unburned acreage may be broken up into several units, and it is expected to take one to two weeks to complete ignitions. Expect active burning, and smoke being visible for several weeks after.
The burn treatment will introduce fire to strengthen protection in our local communities from destructive wildfire, by not only reducing hazardous fuel conditions, but by restoring, enhancing and sustaining a healthy forest ecosystem. In 2010 & 2011 this was the very first Dinkey Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Project to reduce fuels, and provide for forest resiliency using mechanical and prescribed fire treatments.
Residents and visitors to the forest may see smoke, active fire, and firefighters during the burn, and are asked to drive slowly and carefully as they enjoy the forest. For firefighter and public safety, signs will be posted along roadways where burning is taking place.
All burning activities are coordinated with the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District to time the project to coincide with favorable weather conditions and smoke dispersion.
Smoke may be visible from the greater Fresno/Clovis communities, and along Hwy168. Localized smoke impacts may be felt around Shaver Lake, Dinkey Creek and McKinley Grove roads. For regional information about air quality, smoke conditions, and health effects, visit www.valleyair.org or visit www.airnow.gov.
For questions regarding the Dinkey South Understory prescribed fire, contact Adam Hernandez Fuels Specialist, High Sierra Ranger District Office at (559) 855-5355.
Source: Sierra National Forest
