For Immediate Release: October 8, 2004
Contact: Debbie Santiago(661) 391-6097 #CCal-04-02

BLM to Conduct Prescribed Burn on Case Mountain

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will conduct a prescribed burn on Case Mountain, east of Three Rivers in Tulare County. Fire managers have submitted a planned ignition forecast advisory to the San Joaquin Air Pollution Control District and are waiting for a permissive burn day with desirable weather conditions to begin fire operations. The window of opportunity to begin ignition runs from October 15th through October 31st. The burn project will take approximately 4 days to complete as a succession of small plots will be treated, totaling 190 acres on public land.

The controlled burn will reduce the potential for a catastrophic wildfire within the Case Mountain giant sequoia groves and reintroduce fire to the ecosystem. Planning for the burn has been underway for 3 years including scientific studies on the sequoia ecosystem's response to fire. Reptile and amphibian populations have been monitored and fire crews have taken preventative measures to protect the sequoias by removing heavy fuel accumulations near the base of the trees.

A safe and effective burn is a top BLM priority. Burning will only commence if conditions are appropriate and full clearance is obtained from the Air District. This is the third year that BLM has attempted to complete the Case Mountain project that was originally scheduled in 2002 and 2003 but was postponed because of poor weather conditions.

In the interest of public safety, BLM requests visitors stay off of Salt Creek Road and out of the Case Mountain area until the prescribed burn is completed.

For additional information contact the Bakersfield Field Office at 661-391-6000

-BLM-

Bakersfield Field Office - 3801 Pegasus Drive, Bakersfield, CA 93308
www.ca.blm.gov