San Bernardino National Forest to start Winter Prescribed Fire Program

San Bernardino National Forest to start Winter Prescribed Fire Program
Date: Nov 23, 2010

San Bernardino, Calif., November 23, 2010 –The Forest Service will begin its winter prescribed burn program in the San Bernardino National Forest with the favorable weather conditions.

According to Forest Fire Chief Rocky Opliger, prescribed fires are an important way to maintain forest health and to reduce fuels that could feed future wildfires. “Prescribed fires are ignited only when both weather and fuel conditions exist that will ensure low to moderate burning rates and firefighting resources are available to keep fires within fire lines,” said Chief Opliger.

Prescribed fires and pile burning are intended to reduce the amount of vegetation, such as needles, small plants, brush, and small trees, which can carry fire from the forest floor into the treetops. Studies and experience have shown that prescribed fires will stimulate the growth of grasses, forbs and shrubs that provide food for deer, mountain quail and other wildlife. “We are sensitive to the fact that smoke has an impact on people, particularly those with respiratory conditions and allergies,” said Opliger. “Every effort is made to ignite prescribed fires when weather patterns will carry smoke away from populated areas.”

Firefighters will be burning slash and debris piles adjacent to Forest Service Fire Stations. Signs will be posted along the roadways to alert passerby’s to the burning activity. The Forest Service will send out occasional reminders to the public, alerting to potential smoke in the air.

In addition to the station pile burning, the public may also see smoke from pile burning activities in the following forest locations over the winter months:

San Bernardino Mountains:

Slash and debris pile burning along State Highway 38 as part of the Angelus Oaks Community Defense Project.

Slash and debris piles along State Highway 173 north of Lake Arrowhead and Deer Lodge Park.

San Gabriel Mountains:

Slash and debris pile burning along Lone Pine Canyon Road as part of the Boundary Ridge Project

San Jacinto Mountains:

Slash and debris pile burning along State Highway 243 between Black Mountain and Pine Cove. CalFire also will burn piles in the areas of Stone Creek and Lawler Lodge.

Prescribed fire near Lake Hemet, north of Highway 74 as part of the on-going Bonita Vista fuels reduction project.

Forest visitors are encouraged to “Know Before You Go” and call ahead to the local Ranger Station to check on location conditions and restrictions.

Arrowhead Ranger Station 909-382-2758
Big Bear Ranger Station & Discovery Center 909-382-2790
Lytle Creek Ranger Station 909-382-2851
Idyllwild Ranger Station 909-382-2922
Mill Creek Ranger Station 909-382-2882