BLM plans prescribed fire projects near Redding through Jan. 20
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REDDING, Calif. — The Bureau of Land Management plans to conduct pile burning projects on the west side of Redding and near the community of Old Shasta, beginning Monday, Jan. 9, and continuing through Friday, Jan. 20. Smoke may be visible from Grant Elementary School, Happy Valley Elementary School and State Route 299 west of Redding, depending on project area.
The pile burning projects will be conducted only when weather and fuel conditions allow for safe and successful burning and smoke dispersion. Crews will monitor the burns and halt ignition if there is a probability of significant smoke impacts to communities.
Fire crews to burn vegetation piles on five to 10 acres each day, for a project area of approximately 100 acres. Project areas include the Swasey Recreation Area, Middle Creek Trail and China Gulch Road in west Redding, and Pioneer Baby Grove near Old Shasta.
“These projects are designed to remove vegetation piles from earlier projects to reduce fuels that could feed wildfires,” said Jennifer Mata, manager of the BLM Redding Field Office. “Reducing fuel loading creates a more fire resilient landscape and reduces the probability of a wildfire spreading into the tree canopy where it could spread rapidly. This will also help us maintain and improve the scenic quality of these public lands.”
The BLM conducts prescribed burning to improve the fire resiliency and health of public lands and to reduce the probability of wildfires impacting public lands and resources and adjacent communities.
More information on the upcoming projects is available from the BLM Redding Field Office, 530-22402100.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.