May 3, 2023 - The San Bernardino National Forest (BDF) San Jacinto District will be conducting a prescribed burn today in the Cranston Reforestation area from 9:00am to 5:00pm as weather and environmental conditions allow. There are approximately 15 acres planned around Highway 74 and Keen Camp Summit. 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, and the U.S. Forest Service works to mitigate smoke impacts from prescribed fires on the communities in the area.

#PrescribedBurn #PrescribedFire #ForestHealth #CranstonRestorationPrescribedBurn

May 3, 2023 - The San Bernardino National Forest (BDF) Front Country Ranger District will conduct a broadcast burn today from 9:00am to 5:00pm as weather and environmental conditions allow. There are approximately 20 acres planned around the Angelus Oaks Community. 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, and the U.S. Forest Service works to mitigate smoke impacts from prescribed fires on the communities in the area.                                                    

#PrescribedBurn #PrescribedFire #ForestHealth #AngelusOaksPrescribedBurn

Sunny, dry and windy conditions are expected to continue today with temperatures in the 60’s and 70’s, relative humidity around 20% and wind gusts of 25 to 30 mph, and a 5% chance of rain. The potential for reburn is increasing mainly due to needlecast and light unburned vegetation.   

Needlecast: Pine needles affected by the smoke during the burn will typically start falling in mass several weeks after the fire burned through.  The amount of dried needles on the ground can be significant enough to support reburn where they accumulate on heat sources.  Crews have to monitor firelines and keep them clear of the needles to prevent reburn that may carry fire over the firelines.    

PLEASE BE AWARE: Wildland fire engines and large equipment will continue to be on roads in this area. Please slow down and use caution when driving near them.  

Acreage: 32,400 acres; Containment: 65%; Personnel and Equipment: 203 total personnel; 2 helicopters, 8 Type-6 engines, 3 Type-2 and 6 Type-3 tractor plow units, 1 drone, 1 grader, 1 excavator and 1 ambulance.  

Firefighters will continue to patrol and monitor for heat sources today. Yesterday on the north end of the fire, mop-up operations included fully extinguishing several heat sources near the fireline and today that area will continue to be well patrolled. The drying weather trend is helping firefighters find those heat sources as smoke starts becoming more evident.  There are heat sources revealed by smoke that are in the fire “interior” that do not present a problem and are continued to be monitored.  The drone with mounted infrared equipment is flying again today to continue to identify heat sources.  Thirty loads (over 300 tons) of gravel and rock will be used today to continue repair and reinforcement on several roads in the fire area.  

Air quality: Information on current air quality data for North Carolina is at https://www.airnow.gov/.   

Closures: Catfish Lake Road closure has been lifted.  Please slow down and travel with caution. 

Fire equipment continues to use Catfish Lake Road. 

The road closures on County Line Road and Forest Service Road 203 (Holston Creek Road) remains in effect. Updates to road closures surrounding the fire is at https://drivenc.gov/.  

Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR): The TFR continues to be in place over the fire during the hours of 6 AM to midnight. Information is at:  https://tfr.faa.gov/save_pages/detail_3_5862.html     

PLEASE NOTE: If there are intrusions into the Temporary Flight Restriction area, firefighting aerial operations must stop. 

Firewise: Information on preparing your home and property to reduce the risk from fire can be found at https://www.nfpa.org/Public-Education/Fire-causes-and-risks/Wildfire/Firwise-USA  

Donations: Those interested in donating to firefighters, please consider assisting your local fire departments and /or the Wildland Firefighter Foundation https://wffoundation.org   

May 2, 2023 - Evening Update – Burn operations have concluded successfully on the Cranston Restoration prescribed burn. Firefighters were able to accomplish 10 acres today. Smoke may still be visible through the night. 

#PrescribedBurn #PrescribedFire #ForestHealth #CranstonRestorationPrescribedBurn

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.

Local fire officials and the air quality management district are aware of the prescribed fire operations.

BLM Southwest District, Tres Rios Field Office educational summary on the Animas City Mountain Prescribed Fire project. Open the PDF document to understand the process of this low severity prescribed burn project.  

May 2, 2023 - The San Bernardino National Forest (BDF) San Jacinto 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 10 acres planned around the Cranston Reforestation area near Southeast Mountain Center. 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, and the U.S. Forest Service works to mitigate smoke impacts from prescribed fires on the communities in the area.

#PrescribedBurn #PrescribedFire #ForestHealth

The Southern Area Gray Team took over management of the Great Lakes Fire at 8 AM this morning.  The Gray Team is a Type III team with a smaller organization structure.  The condition of the fire has allowed for a smaller organization.  Firefighters continue to be on the firelines to patrol, monitor, and eliminate any heat sources that may come up during the current drying trend this week. Accumulated rainfall totals from passing storms have significantly aided firefighting efforts. The primary object for the Gray Team is public and firefighter safety.  Please be aware that while some of the wildland resources including personnel and engines, have been released from this incident, there are still personnel and equipment travelling the roads in the area.  Please use caution when driving near them. 

Acreage: 32,400 acres Containment: 63%   

Personnel and Equipment: 203 total personnel; 2 helicopters, 7 Type-6 engines, 2 Type-2 and 3 Type-3 tractor plow units, 1 drone, 1 fixed wing aircraft, 1 grader, 1 excavator and 1 ambulance.  

Sunny, dry and windy conditions are expected today and through midweek with temperatures in the 70’s, relative humidity around 20% and wind gusts of 25 to 30 mph. Drying conditions are expected to continue and crews continue to patrol for any hidden heat sources that may ignite ground fuels.  

Today, work around the fire consists mainly of patrolling and monitoring for heat sources with the aid of drone mounted infrared equipment to locate those heat sources.  The predicted weather conditions will actually help firefighters on the ground to quickly deal with any hidden heat sources revealed by the presence of smoke. Focus will be on the Great Lakes Road primarily in the southeast portion of the fireline, and Black Swamp Road in the southwest portion of the fire.  

Yesterday firefighters continued to patrol and monitor the fire, mop up along Black Swamp Road and road crews continued to gravel Mattocks Road.  

Air quality: Information on current air quality data for North Carolina is at https://www.airnow.gov/.   

Closures: Road closures on County Line Road and Catfish Lake Road remain in effect. Forest Service Road 203 is also closed due to fire operations. Updates to road closures surrounding the fire is at https://drivenc.gov/.  

Temporary Flight Restriction: Note: The Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) in place over the fire area has changed in that the hours of the restriction are now between 6 AM to midnight. Information is at the Federal Aviation Administration website. A flight restriction is necessary to protect aerial firefighting operations. If there are intrusions into the Temporary Flight Restrictions, we must stop aerial operations.  

We have had many offers of donations to firefighters. We are grateful for your support, but currently do not have the capacity for processing and storing donations on site. In lieu of donations to the Great Lakes Fire please consider making a monetary donation to the Wildland Firefighter Foundation.   

May 1, 2023 - Evening Update –– Burn operations have concluded successfully on the Tobacco prescribed burn. The burn piles are holding in place and will be monitored in patrol status. Firefighters were able to accomplish 11 acres today. Smoke may still be visible through the night.

#PrescribedBurn #PrescribedFire #ForestHealth #Tobaccoprescribedburn