October 21, 2025 - North Fork, Calif. - Sierra National Forest (SNF) fire officials plan to implement seasonal (fall/winter/spring) prescribed burning program within the Bass Lake Ranger District (BLRD) looking to accomplish nearly 1500 acres of hazardous fuels reductions.

Prescribed fires planned for the area include:

• Bass Lake Recreation Sites
• Sugar Pine,
• Incline,
• Nelder Grove,
• Greys Mountain,
• Sonny Meadows,
• Madera County Roads,
• Thornberry Fuelbreak,
• Oak Fire Suppression Repair,
• Lower Beasore Road,
• Dutch/Soda Road Hazard Project,
• Benedict Meadow
• Texas Flat Meadow
• Administrative sites at Batterson, Clearwater, Jerseydale, North Fork and other stations, for approximately 1500 total acres. 

Those areas may have limited access to the public for several days for public safety. Watch for warning signs along roads near all prescribed fire areas before and during burns.

The SNF coordinates all burning activities with the Mariposa County Air Pollution Control District and San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District to time the project to coincide with favorable weather conditions and smoke dispersion 

These projects may result in a temporary reduction in air quality in the communities of North Fork, Ponderosa Basin, Jerseydale, Oakhurst, Fish Camp, Sugar Pine, Cedar Valley, Bass Lake, Ahwahnee, and surrounding areas. It is recommended that residents download the AirNow app or visit AirNow to monitor air quality. When driving, slow down and turn on your headlights when you encounter smoke on the road.

Weather conditions are evaluated regularly in the hours before a burn begins. If conditions warrant, scheduled prescribed fire activities may be canceled/postponed.

For more information on the planned prescribed burns, contact the Bass Lake Ranger District Office at (559) 877-2218.

About the Forest Service: The USDA Forest Service has for more than 100 years brought people and communities together to answer the call of conservation. Grounded in world-class science and technology– and rooted in communities–the Forest Service connects people to nature and to each other. The Forest Service cares for shared natural resources in ways that promote lasting economic, ecological, and social vitality. The agency manages 193 million acres of public land, provides assistance to state and private landowners, maintains the largest wildland fire and forestry research organizations in the world. The Forest Service also has either a direct or indirect role in stewardship of about 900 million forested acres within the U.S., of which over 130 million acres are urban forests where most Americans live.

Source: Sierra National Forest