Fuels project halts spread of wildfire in Douglas County
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CARSON CITY, Nev. — On August 2, at 3 p.m., the Lebo Springs fire started approximately eight miles east of Johnson Lane in Douglas County, NV. The fire was human caused and burned into the Sunrise Pass fuels project. Fire intensity was mitigated in the fuels break and firefighters were able to safely engage the fire and stop forward progress at 27.5 acres.
“This area has potential for large wildfire growth but with this treatment in place and quick response from firefighters, fire suppression efforts were successful,” said Ryan Elliott, District Fuels Program Manager. “When this project was implemented, it was controversial due to the removal of pinyon trees and brush. The Lebo Springs Fire would likely be actively growing if it were not for this fuels project.”
The 660-acre Sunrise Fuels project was completed in the fall of 2015 and had a scheduled maintenance completed in the fall of 2019. Treatment specifications for this project were designed to thin brush and trees through mechanical mastication in a manner that maintains and restores a diverse, functioning, and resilient plant community and reduce fire intensity potential.
For more information, please contact Jen Diamond at 775-885-6197.
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.