Incidents All News

The Grindstone Ranger District is planning pile burning at Letts Lake and Mill Valley today.  10 acres is planned in Mill Valley near the campground.  15 acres is planned at the south end of Letts Lake near the road. Ignitions are dependent on favorable weather conditions.  Updates on the project will be provided after completion.

Unfavorable wind conditions prevented understory burning in the Howard Mill unit today, May 11, 2023. Instead, fire crews spent the day prepping another unit to be ready for a future prescribed fire opportunity.

Today fuels specialists on the Upper Lake Ranger District have prepped a unit at Howard Mill to conduct understory burn operations on Thursday, May 11, pending favorable weather conditions.

On Thursday, May 4, firefighters successfully completed 15 acres of pile burning in the Westshore Project area. On Friday, May 5, firefighters plan to continue pile burning operations in the Westshore Project area. This week conditions have been ideal for pile burning. The cooler temperatures and precipitation allowed fires to burn at low intensity. Tomorrow firefighters will be attempting an additional 20 acres, pending favorable conditions. Please be advised, some smoke may be visible in the Lake Pillsbury basin.

On Tuesday, May 2, crews successfully completed burning hand piles at the Soda Creek and Stonyford Stations. Some smoke may be visible in those areas. Please do not be concerned or report. Both hand pile units remain in patrol status. On Wednesday, May 3, fuels specialists are planning to burn several piles in the Westshore Project area near Lake Pillsbury, pending favorable weather conditions. Crews will begin ignitions in the morning and will be mopping up and patrolling the unit for several days after.

Given the cooler and wetter weather this week, fuels specialists are planning to burn several hand piles at Soda Creek Station and Stonyford Station on Tuesday, May 2. Forest staff are coordinated with local authorities for smoke monitoring. Pending favorable weather conditions, crews will begin ignitions in the morning and will be mopping up and patrolling the prescribed burn unit for several days after.

Last night firefighters attempted burning 5 acres of hand piles in the Westshore Project (Unit 8). One acre was completed before weather conditions caused ignitions to be stopped. Firefighters remained on the scene overnight monitoring and mopping up the unit. On Friday, April 14 the unit remains in patrol status.

Fuels specialists on the Upper Lake Ranger District are planning ignitions on five acres of hand piles in the Westshore Project, Unit 8, at approximately 8pm on Thursday, April 13.

Pile burning in the Westshore Project area in the Upper Lake/Covelo Ranger District is planned for this week if conditions allow. Today 10 acres of hand piles in Unit 8 was attempted, though only one acre was completed before weather conditions caused ignitions to be stopped. Firefighters remained on the scene for several hours monitoring and ensuring that the piles were completely burned out.

Favorable weather conditions have created an opportunity to begin pile burning today at the Chico Seed Orchard.  Ten acres of piles is planned for this forest administrative site. Smoke may be visible. Please do not be concerned or report. Local fire officials and the air quality management district are aware of the prescribed fire operations.