Prescribed burns scheduled around Lake Tahoe

Tahoe Douglas Fire Protection District, California State Parks, and the U.S. Forest Service may continue prescribed fire operations next week beginning May 22.

If conditions are favorable, operations are scheduled to take place near Sugar Pine Point, Glenbrook, Lower Kingsbury Grade, Ski Run Boulevard, Fallen Leaf Lake and Meyers. Operations may continue over the next several weeks, weather permitting.

A) Lower Kingsbury Grade Area - 5 acres

B) Sugar Pine Point State Park - 5 acres
C) Hwy 50/Logan Creek Dr - 50 acres
D) SR-89/Grass Lake Rd - 30 acres
E) SR-89/Fallen Leaf Lake Rd - 40 acres
F) Ski Run/Pioneer Trail - 30 acres
G) Twin Peaks/Christmas Valley - 40 acres

Each prescribed fire operation follows a prescribed fire burn plan, which considers temperature, humidity, wind, moisture of the vegetation, and conditions for the dispersal of smoke. This information is used to decide when and where to burn. When conditions meet the prescription, state and local air pollution control districts issue a burn permit allowing operations to proceed.
The TFFT gives as much advance notice as possible before burning, but some operations may be conducted on short notice.

Before prescribed fire operations are conducted, agencies post road signs around areas affected by prescribed fire, send email notifications and update the local fire information line at 530-543-2816.

Smoke from prescribed fire operations is normal and may continue for several days after an ignition depending on the project size and environmental conditions. Agencies coordinate with state and local county air pollution control districts and monitor weather conditions closely prior to prescribed fire ignition. They wait for favorable conditions that will carry smoke up and out of the basin. Crews also conduct test burns before igniting a larger area, to verify how effectively fuels are consumed and how smoke will travel. Smoke sensitive individuals are encouraged to reduce their exposure by staying indoors if they are in a smoke affected area.

For more information about prescribed fire and smoke management tips, visit http://www.fs.usda.gov/goto/ltbmu/RxFireOps.