November 19, 2021 - SONORA, Calif. — The Stanislaus National Forest provides the following information about planned prescribed underburn on the forest.

Prescribed Fire Name / Ranger District: South 108 Underburn (Unit 9) MiWok Ranger District 

General and Specific Location: Unit 9 is approximately 1 mile east of Ponderosa Hills, along Forest Road 2N09, in the vicinity of Mt. Provo, Township 2N, Range 16E, Section(s) 22.  

Projected Duration: Ignition of the prescribed burn is expected to begin the last week of November 2021 with controlled burning to commence in 1-2 days.  Burning is contingent on weather, fuel moisture, and air quality. All burning is monitored and conducted in accordance with state and county air quality guidelines and closely coordinated with local county air quality control districts.  

Planned Size of Prescribed Burn: A total of 58 acres are to be treated with low-intensity fire, with planned ignition on approximately 25-58 acres daily.  Size of burn may vary with weather and fuel moisture conditions, as well as permissible air quality burn days.

Type of Prescribed Burn: Broadcast underburn of low intensity.

Burn Project Objectives: Reduce the buildup of flammable forest fuels. Both ground fuels and ladder fuels; reduce the threat of uncontrolled, large and damaging fires:

• Improve protection of life and property in the community of Ponderosa Hills
• Enhance and protect wildlife habitat and improve deer browse;
• Protect the North Fork of the Tuolumne River watershed, campgrounds and forest and private infrastructure;
• Promote health and resiliency in Ponderosa Pine forest and reduce susceptibility to future insect and disease occurrences and drought.

Public Benefits: Prescribed burning is an effective, cost-efficient method of reducing flammable forest fuels, improving firefighting capabilities, and reducing the impacts of large uncontrolled damaging wildland fires.

Resource Benefits: Controlled or prescribed, low-intensity fires enhance wildlife habitat, protect and maintain water quality and soil productivity, improve forest ecosystem health, and reduce the threat of uncontrolled conflagrations.  The Sierra Nevada is a fire dependent ecosystem, where fire is part of natural forest processes.

Public Advisory:  Smoke maybe be visible from Hwy. 108 and Tuolumne Road. Some down canyon drift smoke visible in the evening and early morning mainly in the North Fork of the Tuolumne River Canyon. This project is a planned prescribed fire. Please do not report as a wildland fire.

Thank you for your cooperation!
Source: Stanislaus National Forest