May 23, 2023 - Evening Update – Burn operations have concluded successfully on the  Lytle Creek prescribed burn. Firefighters were able to accomplish 23 acres today. Smoke may still be visible through the night.

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

#PrescribedBurn #PrescribedFire #ForestHealth #LytleCreekPrescribedBurn

May 23, 2023 - The San Bernardino National Forest (BDF) Front Country Ranger District will be conducting a prescribed pile burn today from 9:00am to 5:00pm as weather and environmental conditions allow. There are approximately 23 acres planned around the Lytle Creek Fire Station with a probability of success due to the cooler weather. Residents and visitors will see flames and smoke visible throughout the day and evening. Firefighters will be monitoring the area until all piles are extinguished.

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, the U.S. Forest Service work 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/incident-information/cabdf-2023-san-bernardino-national-forest-wildfire-crisis-response-

#PrescribedBurn #PrescribedFire  #ForestHealth #LytleCreekPrescribedBurn

Magdalena Ranger District to Implement
Prescribed Fire Operations

Durfee Bolander Unit 8 & Corn Canyon

ALBUQUERQUE, NM – May 23, 2023 – Fire Managers on the Cibola National Forest & National Grasslands (NF & NGs) plan to conduct previously announced prescribed fire operations on the Magdalena Ranger District. Ignitions are planned to start as early as Wed May 24 and continue thru Tues. May 30.

Ignition will depend upon agency administrator approval and conditions within the ranges outlined in the prescribed fire plan. Optimal conditions will result in effective smoke ventilation and dispersal and help achieve the desired effects needed to accomplish the burn plan objectives. 

Crews are preparing for burning on:

Magdalena Ranger District: Durfee Bolander RX Fire: 1,135 acres on Unit 8 in the vicinity of Durfee and Bolander Canyon along FSR 476, FSR 220, 661A and 220X. Smoke may be visible from the communities of Magdalena, Alamo and Datil. See Map

Magdalena Ranger District: Corn Canyon RX Fire: 1,890 acres of Unit 2A in the vicinity of Corn Canyon along FSR 225. Smoke will be visible from the communities of Monticello, Truth or Consequences, Socorro and traffic along I-25. See map.

Our land management strategy is centered on long-term forest health, including reducing forest fuels and using prescribed fire on the landscape. Prescribed fires are intended to reduce hazardous fuels that have accumulated due to drought, climate change, insects and disease, and decades of fire suppression.

With fire there is smoke, but firefighters take measures to reduce smoke impacts as much as possible. Fire crews use tactics such as starting early in the day and ending ignitions early in the afternoon to allow for the most ventilation possible throughout the burn. Smoke may settle into drainages and lower elevations at night, but is expected to dissipate by late morning, as daytime temperatures increase. Information on air quality and protecting your health can be found online at the www.airnow.gov/

Implementation announcements and updates on prescribed fire projects will be posted on InciWeb, New Mexico Fire Information and on the Cibola NF & NGs website, Cibola Facebook and Cibola Twitter sites.

Magdalena District Office: 575-854-2281

Cibola National Forest and National Grasslands Supervisor’s Office: 505-346-3900

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May 23, 2023 

Release Time:  1000am 

Acres:  4188 acres (as of 5/22/2023) Percent Containment:  44%  

Start Date:  April 27, 2023 Cause:  Lightning  

Jurisdiction:  Ocala National Forest & Juniper Prairie Wilderness Area 

Resources:  260 personnel including 1 handcrew, 11 engines, 1 dozer, and 4 helicopters 

Highlights:  The fire received substantial rainfall yesterday. Temperatures are forecast to be in the mid 80s with winds from the northeast, and afternoon and evening thunderstorms. Fire behavior is primarily expected to be smoldering due to the moist conditions. Fire crews will be patrolling and monitoring, and some equipment is being back-hauled for demobilization. Fire suppression resources on the fire will begin to decrease as attention shifts to repair and rehabilitation of forest roadways and fire lines as needed. Containment estimate remains at 44%. 

Current Status:  Fire crews will be patrolling and monitoring for hot spots and some equipment will be prepared for demobilization. Air resources remain available to support ground crews as weather and safety permits. The Southern Area Blue Team is beginning preparation for turning over management of the fire to a smaller team Saturday morning. Protection for historical and cultural resources, recreational areas, and residential properties in the Juniper Springs, Pat’s Island, Sweetwater Cabin, Juniper Wayside, and Silver Glen areas remains a priority. 

Minimal fire behavior is expected due to moist conditions and forecast rainfall. Smoldering of larger fuels with a few hot spots east of SR-19. The potential for new fire starts is minimal today as a result of yesterday’s rainfall. 

Weather:  The fire area received 2 to 4 inches of rain yesterday and similar amounts are possible again today. High temperatures are forecast in the mid 80s with lows around 70. Winds will be from the northeast at 8 to 12 mph in the afternoon. Minimum relative humidity is forecast to be around 70% today. The chance of rain today is 90% and thunderstorms are likely later in the day. Thunderstorms can produce locally heavy rain and gusty and erratic winds. 

Ocala National Forest & Juniper Prairie Wilderness Temporary Area Closures:  Closures are in effect for the Juniper Prairie Wilderness including the Florida National Scenic Trail between SR40 and National Forest System Road (NFS) 50. National Forest System Roads (NFS) 33 between State Road 40 and NFS 50; NFS 46 from NFS 33 to State Road 19; and NFS 50 from NFS 33 to State Road 19 are closed. Closure Information available here. Travel by residents, landowners , concessionaires, first responders, and permit holders (case-by-case) is permitted on NFS 50 east of Hopkins Campground. 

Juniper Recreation and Hopkins Campground areas are open. The Ocala Gun Range will open at 11am today. Slver Glen is scheduled to reopen on Friday. Sweetwater Cabin will reopen Saturday to guests with reservations. 

The Florida Department of Transportation will be reopening SR 19 beginning at 11am with full access by noon today. Motorists are requested to report any limitations in visibility to the Florida Highway Patrol. 

Air Quality Outlook:  Air quality in the vicinity of the fire is expected to be Good for the next 48 hours. Smoke Outlook available here. 

Fire Information Office Hours: 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM EDT Phone: 352-448-0665 Email: 2023.major@firenet.gov 

Inciweb:  https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/flfnf-major 

Facebook:  https://facebook.com/NationalForestsinFlorida 

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Fire managers from the Klamath National Forest accomplished 15 acres of prescribed burning at the Van Bremmer Project on Monday. The prescribed burn is located about nine miles northeast of Tennant. Goosenest Ranger District employees were joined by resources from CAL FIRE's Siskiyou Unit to take part in the burn.

Conditions on Tuesday (May 23) were out of prescription at the Van Bremmer Project for ignitions to occur. Fire managers will continue to monitor conditions at the project area for opportunities to continue with with prescribed burn operations. If the project weather and fuels conditions come back into prescription, up to 230 total acres of prescribed burning could over the course of this week.

Goals of the Van Bremmer project are to reduce hazardous fuels to decrease fire behavior during future wildfire events, improve forage for big game, and to improve stand resilience to insects and disease. Smoke may be visible from CA Highway 97.

Mountain Home Demonstration State Forest & Balch Park Closure

Visalia – Effective immediately, there is no public access to Mountain Home Demonstration State Forest and Tulare County’s Balch Park. The closure is due to significant road damage caused by last winter’s storms. This closure affects Bear Creek Road and Balch Park Road in the Springville area.

To keep updated on forest and camping conditions:

Follow us on Facebook @calfiretuu
Follow us on Twitter @CALFIRETUU
Follow us on Instagram @calfire_tuu
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Fire managers successfully completed 85 acres of burning at Scott Bar Mountain today. A patrol will remain on site this evening. Crews will return to the project tomorrow to patrol and mop up where needed.

On the Goosenest Ranger District, crews will be heading out to the Van Bremmer project tomorrow to begin prescribed burn operations. The Van Bremmer underburn is located about nine northeast of Tennant, in ponderosa pine and mixed conifer stands. Fire personnel will be looking to burn up to 230 acres over the course of multiple days as conditions allow.

Prescribed burning at the Van Bremmer project aims to reduce hazardous fuels to decrease fire behavior during future wildfire events, improve forage for big game, and to improve stand resilience to insects and disease. Smoke may be visible from CA Highway 97.

Klamath National Forest fire managers from the Salmon/Scott River Ranger District are planning on resuming prescribed burn operations on Sunday, May 21 at Scott Bar Mountain. Up to 85 acres will be burned if conditions allow. 

Smoke will be visible from Fort Jones, Quartz Valley, and Scott River Road. 

May 21, 2023 

Release Time:  1030am 

Acres:  4188 acres (as of 5/21/2023) Percent Containment:  38%  

Start Date:  April 27, 2023 Cause:  Lightning  

Jurisdiction:  Ocala National Forest & Juniper Prairie Wilderness Area 

Resources:  247 personnel including 1 handcrew, 12 engines, 1 dozer, and 6 helicopters 

Highlights:  High temperatures in the lower 90 with winds from the east, and scattered afternoon and evening thunderstorms are forecast. Crews will continue to monitor for hot spots, reinforce firelines, assess structure protection, and build contingency lines with emphasis on SR-19 and the communities of Silver Glen and Salt Springs. There is some potential for fire spread and spotting again today as well as new starts due to lightning. Crews and air resources are poised to respond to new fire starts, spotting, and spread. Additional fire suppression resources are ordered and continue to arrive daily. Containment estimate has been adjusted to 40% due to better mapping. 

Current Status:  Moderate fire activity occurred yesterday and showers in midday limited the ability to conduct planned burnout operations. Fire suppression activity will continue to be focused on reducing pockets of unburned fuels, reinforcing contingency fire line around communities east of SR-19, and rapid response to flare-ups, spotting outside firelines and new starts due to lightning. Air resources remain available to support fire suppression ground crews. Protection for historical and cultural resources, recreational areas, and residential properties in the Juniper Springs, Pat’s Island, Sweetwater Cabin, Juniper Wayside, and Silver Glen areas continues to be a priority. 

Moderate fire behavior is expected for today with creeping, smoldering and some flare-ups. An area of concern continues to be hot spots finding pockets of unburned fuels and spotting in the southeast sector of the fire. The potential for new fire starts is increased today with lightning from scattered afternoon and evening thunderstorms. Most fuels remain dry and all fuel types are likely to be available to burn during the afternoon hours. 

Weather:  High temperatures are forecast in the low 90s with lows around 70. Winds will be light and then from the east at 5 to 9 mph in the afternoon. Scattered thunderstorms are forecast for late afternoon and evening. Thunderstorms can produce gusty and erratic winds and unpredictable fire spread. 

Ocala National Forest & Juniper Prairie Wilderness Temporary Area Closures:  Closures are in effect for the Juniper Prairie Wilderness including the Florida National Scenic Trail between SR40 and National Forest System Road (NFS) 50. National Forest System Roads (NFS) 33 between State Road 40 and NFS 50; NFS 46 from NFS 33 to State Road 19; and NFS 50 from NFS 33 to State Road 19 are closed. Closure Information available here. 

Juniper Recreation and Hopkins Campground areas remain open at this time. Travel by residents, landowners , concessionaires, first responders, and permit holders (case-by-case) is permitted on NFS 50 east of Hopkins Campground. 

SR 19 is closed between County Road 314 and SR 40 and traffic is being detoured onto CR 314 between SR 19 and SR 40. 

Air Quality Outlook:  Air quality in the vicinity of the fire is expected to be Good for the next 48 hours. Smoke Outlook available here. 

Fire Information 

Office Hours: 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM EDT Phone: 352-448-0665 Email: 2023.major@firenet.gov 

Inciweb:  https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/flfnf-major 

Facebook:  https://facebook.com/NationalForestsinFlorida