December 7, 2021 - SONORA, Calif. — The Stanislaus National Forest provides the following information about planned prescribed underburn on the forest.
Prescribed Fire Name / Ranger District: Bear Mountain Underburn, Groveland Ranger District
General and Specific Location: Located approximately 22 miles east of Groveland, along Forest Road 1S03, in the vicinity of Ackerson and Bear Mountain, Township 1S, Range 19E.
Projected Duration: **Update 12/06/2021 – Ignition for this burn occurred at approximately 1000 on 12/06/2021 and the prescribed burn will likely continue through the week.
Ignition of the prescribed burn is expected to begin November and continue for 4 to 6 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. The burn will be closely coordinated with local county air quality control districts.
Planned Size of Prescribed Burn: A total of up to 334 acres could be treated with low-intensity fire, with planned ignition on approximately up to 150 acres or more 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 communities of Evergreen, Camp Mather, Peach Growers tract, and Private adjacent land;
- Enhance and protect wildlife habitat and improve deer browse;
- Protect the Tuolumne River watershed, campgrounds and forest and private infrastructure;
- Promote health and resiliency in mixed conifer 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 process.
Public Advisory: Smoke maybe be visible from Hwy. 120 and Evergreen Road, with some down canyon drift smoke visible in the evening and early morning mainly in the South Fork of the Tuolumne River drainage. This project is a planned prescribed fire. Please do not report as a wildland fire.
Thank you for your cooperation!
Source: SNF
