News From Modoc National Forest
/FIRE SAFETY RESTRICTIONS TO BE LIFTED 9/29
ALTURAS, Calif. – Modoc National Forest Fire and Fuels officials will lift fire-safety restrictions as of Friday, Sept. 29, 2017.
This means forest visitors may once again enjoy campfires outside of excepted campgrounds and recreation sites, although free California campfire permits are still required. Fire officials remind forest visitors to keep campfires small. Please be sure they are completely dead out and cold to the touch before leaving camp.
Woodcutters must still have valid woodcutting permits and tags and assure chainsaws are equipped with spark arresters. Please call 530-233-8819 as required by firewood permits for fire-safety information before heading out.
For more information, please contact the Big Valley Ranger District in Adin at 530-299-3215, the Doublehead Ranger District in Newell at 530-667-2246, the Warner Mountain Ranger District in Cedarville at 530-279-6116 or Forest Headquarters/Devil’s Garden RD at 530-233-5811.
Press Release from U.S. Forest Service-Modoc National Forest
MNF PLANS PRESCRIBED BURNS TO INCREASE WILDFIRE RESISTANCE
ALTURAS, Calif. – Modoc National Forest wildland fire managers plan to burn woody debris on forest lands beginning the week of October 15 through June of 2018 as weather conditions permit.
The recent wildfire season was an active one on the Modoc with three large wildland fires. Fire managers found forest-health projects followed by prescribed burning showed better resistance to wildland fire than mechanical fuels treatments that were not followed by prescribed fire.
Forest Fuels Planner Nicole Longfellow said prescribed burning is part of a forest-wide effort to reduce hazardous fuel loads and restore wildlife habitat. “Crews will await appropriate conditions or ‘burn windows’ to ignite understory fuels or piles and other debris left over from the mechanical portion of forest-heath projects,” said Longfellow. “This burning is often one of the last steps to complete these projects.”
“Prior to pile ignition, Forest Service personnel will work with the National Weather Service to assess weather patterns and conditions to ensure efficient smoke dispersal,” added Longfellow. “There may be some residual smoke in the mornings or late evenings during inversion events around burn units.”
Westside Fire and Fuels crews plan to conduct pile burning in project areas including Clear Lake Sage Steppe Juniper Treatment (1500 acres), Frog Fire Salvage (162 acres), Ambrose (20 acres), Snell Fuel Break (201 acres) and Black Mountain Fuelbreak (24 acres). Other project areas could be added as conditions dictate.
Under burning of 1500 acres is planned at South Bench on the west side of the forest near Medicine Lake for continuing maintenance, along with 300 acres on the Snell project.
On the east side of the Modoc National Forest, under burning is planned at Weed Valley Prescribed Burn (700 Acres) and Green Springs Prescribed Burn (362 Acres). Both of these projects are part of the Crowder Block Wildlife Habitat Improvement Project designed for habitat improvement and fuels reduction.
Pile burning planned on the Devil’s Garden Ranger District includes 200-700 acres of slash piles spread throughout the district. The Warner Mountain Ranger District is planning to burn 200-700 acres of slash piles also spread throughout the District.
Press Release from U.S. Forest Service-Modoc National Forest