SONORA, California June 19, 2023 – Taking advantage of favorable weather conditions and availability
of resources, crews with the Stanislaus National Forest will begin prescribed fire operations in the
Experimental Forest, approximately two miles southeast of the Pinecrest area. Operations are set to
begin within the next week and crews will look to burn approximately 44 acres.

The prescribed burn is designed to target treated National Forest lands within the Wildfire Crisis
Strategic Landscape on the Stanislaus National Forest. The Stanislaus Landscape was one of the initial
landscapes identified by the Forest Service’s 10-year Wildfire Crisis Strategy in 2022.

Up to 44 acres can be treated with low-intensity fire, with planned ignition on approximately 15
acres daily. Daily area burnt will vary based on environmental conditions and smoke production.
With the prescribed burn, fire professional will reduce the buildup of flammable forest fuels,
both ground fuels and ladder fuels; reduce the threat of uncontrolled, large and damaging fires; treat
activity generated fuels; improve protection for life, property, and resources. 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.

Smoke may be visible from Hwy. 108. Fire managers are working closely with local air districts
and the California Air Resources Board to Mitigate the effects of smoke on the public. Please do not
report as a wildfire.

The Boggy Draw prescribed fire began on June 21st, 2023, but has not resumed on the 22nd because of adverse conditions. Firefighters remain in the area in order to keep the fire within its prescribed boundaries. Updates will be posted to this site if active ignitions resume.

The priority area is in Boggy Draw near the forest boundary at Butler Corner (See attached map).  Crews will move to the north in the Boggy Draw units and then to the Haycamp area. The Boggy area is important in order to reduce risks of wildfire in the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) zone.

The prescribed fire operations will result in short term closures to roads, trails, and dispersed camping. Any trails or roads that are not within the operational units will remain open to the public but smoke will be a factor for anyone visiting the area.

Prescribed fire operations are conducted within very limited windows. Climatic conditions including favorable winds for smoke dispersal, humidity and fuel moisture level combined with available fire resources drive our burn windows.  Although we try not to burn on weekends, these limited windows may result in weekend burning.

This is a brief operational update on the Stanislaus National Forest Prescribed Fire Projects for the evening of June 19, 2023. 

No burning was conducted today on the STF Rx Fire Projects. Early in the day today, a test fire was conducted on the Strawberry Rx Burn Project on unit S08. The test was unsuccessful, as winds were aligned to burn the fire too hot out of prescription. The South Fork Rx Burn Project was going to face similar issues with winds that would be too high. 

Conditions look to be more favorable tomorrow on the Strawberry Rx Burn Project on the CL units. Ignition may occur on units CL2 and CL3.

Night patrol will be increased tonight on both the South Fork and Strawberry Rx Burn Projects. Resources may need to be shifted to match with ideal burning units.

Weather conditions look to be more favorable for Rx burning in the next 48 hour period.   

There are a total of 395 firefighters working on these Rx Project areas. To date, a total of 2,780 acres of prescribed burning has occurred in this area of the forest.

Northern New Mexico Type 3 Incident Management Team
Luke McLarty, Incident Commander

Fire Information: 

505-418-1038
2023.comanche@firenet.gov
https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/

Upcoming Actions: After assessing conditions, fire managers will proceed with firing operations. Today’s plan is to slowly bring fire along the containment perimeter to create a black line. Limited aerial firing to create depth on the lines will be conducted with an UAS, also known as a drone, which is equipped with a similar firing device to ones used on helicopters. Fire managers have the capability to call on a second drone with infrared camera capabilities to search for spot fires and threats to the containment line.

With no threat to lives, homes or infrastructure, crews are using a confine and contain strategy. This response allows them to work with the fire as it plays its natural role in a fire-dependent ecosystem.

Smoke: Smoke may be visible from Canjilon, Abiquiu, and El Rito. It may impact the communities of Abiquiu, El Rito, Medenales, Hernandez and the Espanola Valley. Temporary smoke monitors have been placed at the El Rito Ranger Station, and at Ghost Ranch in Abiquiu. Air quality information from these smoke monitors is available from the Fire and Smoke Map at fire.airnow.gov.

Community Open House: Drop in between 5 and 7 p.m. on Thu., Jun. 22, at the El Rito Senior/Community Center at State Rd. 554, House #1115. Presentation at 6 p.m.

Closure: Temporary partial road closures are in effect on Forest Roads 137 and 20.

Fast Facts
Size: 39 acres
Cause: Lightning
Fuels: Ponderosa pine and mixed conifer Values at risk: Cultural/historical sites.
Percent Completed: 1%
Resources: 2 hand crews, 2 wildland fire modules, 6 engines, 1 dozer, 2 water tender, 2 REMS teams, total personnel 179

June 20, 2023 - The San Jacinto District will be continuing the prescribed burn today on Thomas Mountain. Residents and visitors will see flames and smoke visible throughout the day and evening.

If you are traveling on California Highway 74 you may experience brief closures due to aerial operations. These closures are to protect both the firefighters involved in the operations and the public using the highway.

During these operations certain areas will be temporarily closed to the public: Forest Road 6S13, Tool Box Springs Yellow Post Sites, Thomas Mountain Yellow Post Sites, and the Ramona Trail. These closures are implemented for the safety of both the public and firefighters involved in the operations.

Prescribed fire plays an important role in forest health and in reducing extreme wildfires and their negative impact. These fires also help reduce heavy fuel loads while simultaneously opening the conifer forest structure and maintaining the health of meadow habitats. Fire is also used to enhance native plant communities and cultural landscapes and improve wildlife habitats. Another goal is to provide defensible space for communities and developed areas within and surrounding the BDF. With all fire comes smoke, and the U.S. Forest Service works to mitigate smoke impacts from prescribed fires on the communities in the area.

For more information regarding this prescribed burn and the wildfire crisis response please go to: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/.../cabdf-2023-san-bernardino...

#PrescribedBurn #PrescribedFire #ForestHealth #thomasmountainprescribedburn

Spice Lake Fire Fact Sheet-June 20, 2023                   8:00 a.m.

MNICS Team B- Incident Commander Aaron Mielke

Fire Information: 218-248-7240 (8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.)

Email: 2023.spicelake@firenet.gov

Inciweb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident-news/mnsuf-spice-lake-fire

Superior National Forest: www.fs.usda.gov/superior

Date Detected: 6/13/23, Current Size: 22 acres, Containment: 90%

Summary: Late in the afternoon on June 13th, a wildfire was detected between Spice Lake and Ogishkemuncie Lake in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) on the Gunflint Ranger District of the Superior National Forest. Spice Lake is located east of Knife and Kekekabic Lakes and southwest of Seagull Lake, approximately 10 miles west of the Gunflint Trail.

Current Status: Fire activity is creeping and smoldering in mixed timber and brush. Fire crews continue to mop up remaining hot spots on the fire. Mopping up involves putting water on the fire, and using tools to mix it into the soil and duff to extinguish the heat until the area is cooled. Firefighter and public safety are the number one priority. The fire has been initially determined to be human caused and is still under investigation.

Planned Activity: Thirteen firefighters remain on site at the fire area. MNICS Team B will transition the fire back to the Superior National Forest on Wednesday, June 21, 2023. Remaining firefighters continue to monitor the fire, mop up any smokes and hot areas, and bundle up firefighting gear for backhaul. They continue to work with on-site resource advisors to ensure wilderness values, long-term ecosystem health, and impacts to wilderness are minimized.

Closure Area: The Superior National Forest has implemented Forest Order (09-09-23-03) for a closure area of lakes, portages, and trails around the fire for public safety. Public safety crews have redirected visitors and posted portages closed. Details can be found at Superior National Forest - Alerts & Notices (usda.gov).

Fire Restrictions: The Superior National Forest has implemented a Forest Order (09-09-23-02) for campfire restrictions due to continued dry conditions and very high wildfire danger. This Order will remain in effect until further notice. See the Superior National Forest website https://www.fs.usda.gov/superior for more information on fire restrictions.

Business Update: No businesses along the Gunflint Trail have closed due to the fire and are ready to help with trips and services. If you have an upcoming reservation, please contact your guide or cooperator or the Superior National Forest with questions.

Cooperating Agencies: Gunflint Trail Volunteer Fire Department, National Park Service, and Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.

For a recent video on the status of the fire from Aaron Mielke, Spice Lake Fire’s Incident Commander: https://www.facebook.com/reel/928332698252503

June 19, 2023 - Evening Update - Burn operations for today have concluded successfully. With approximately 1,222 acres accomplished so far, crews are making good progress. Taking advantage of favorable weather conditions was crucial for ensuring the safety and effectiveness of the burn operations.

Crews completed the northern side of Thomas Mountain, a significant milestone in the operations. By systematically addressing different sections of the area, the crews worked towards maintaining the fire in the designated footprint. With today’s successful operations, and reported favorable weather conditions tomorrow, the crews will work on the southern section of the prescribed burn area.

The fire is still burning within the unit and sending up smoke; at times visible from Highway 74. Crews will be monitoring and working throughout the evening. Operations will begin again tomorrow at 9am.

The below video is an example of how the fire is consuming a significant amount of ground litter such as needle cast, leaves, and especially the dead and down chaparral.

https://www.facebook.com/SanBernardinoNF/videos/577912624424245

#PrescribedBurn #PrescribedFire #ForestHealth #thomasmountainprescribedburn

Summit Fire Crews Look to Burn 1,500 in Dry Meadows Area

SONORA, California June 5, 2023 – Extending the work currently underway on the Strawberry Prescribed Fire Burn, crews with the Stanislaus National Forest Summit Ranger District have begun prep work on the Dry Meadows burn units. While several environmental factors could impact expected operations, fire managers will look to begin ignitions June 13.
The Dry Meadow Prescribed Burn project is designed to target treated National Forest lands within the Wildfire Crisis Strategic Landscape on the Stanislaus National Forest. The Stanislaus Landscape was one of the initial landscapes identified by the Forest Service’s 10-year Wildfire Crisis Strategy in 2022.

The understory units consist of 1,529 acres located north of Beardsley Lake on the Summit Ranger Districts. The goals for the project are to reduce the risk of high-intensity wildfire and strengthen past fuel reduction efforts by completing second entry prescribed burns in all units across the project.

The project area is located between Beardsley Lake and the Tuolumne State Game Refuge with the majority of the units located in close proximity to Forest Road 5N02. The dominate vegetation type within the project is mixed conifer. Intermixed within the units are areas of brush, grass and bear clover of variable loading depending on canopy cover and aspect. Ground fuels consist mainly of needle cast and fine woody debris.

Due to previous prescribed fires, loading of dead and down material is moderate throughout the majority of the burn units. Although brush and small trees exist within the understory it will not affect the fire behavior due to the canopy base height of the mature timber.

With the prescribed burn, fire professional will reduce the buildup of flammable forest fuels, both ground fuels and ladder fuels; reduce the threat of uncontrolled, large and damaging fires; treat activity generated fuels; improve protection for life, property, and resources. 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.