December 23, 2025 - CLOVIS, Calif. - The Sierra and Sequoia national forests have released the finding of no significant impact and final decision notice for the Sequoia and Sierra national forests prescribed fire project. The project aims to reduce wildfire risk, protect communities, and restore forest health through the strategic use of prescribed fire as an active management tool.

This large-scale effort provides flexibility to efficiently administer prescribed fire across the entirety of both forests, setting a precedent for future landscape-level fire management efforts. Increasing the frequency of prescribed burns will help restore natural vegetation patterns and densities, creating more resilient forests and resulting in lower intensity wildfires.

The project area includes approximately 2.4 million acres across both forests:

•             811,000 acres on the Sequoia National Forest

•             1.3 million acres on the Sierra National Forest

•             328,000 acres within the Giant Sequoia National Monument

All National Forest System lands, including designated Wilderness Areas, within the Sequoia and Sierra national forests fall under the project’s scope.

The decision authorizes a significant expansion of prescribed fire operations. For example, the Sierra National Forest, which has historically treated 3,000–4,000 acres per year, can now implement up to 10,000 acres annually, or 50,000 acres over five years. 

The project responds to the urgent need to increase the pace and scale of forest restoration. This is particularly important in areas affected by extensive drought conditions, beetle-induced tree mortality and historic large-scale wildfires. 

For additional information and to access project documents, visit the project webpage at https://www.fs.usda.gov/r05/sierra/projects/65081, or contact  Amber Sprinkle at  amber.sprinkle@usda.gov or by phone at (559)297-0706.

Source: USDA