Forest Service Approves Fuels Treatment Projects for Lake of the Woods and Frazier Park Areas in Kern County

Thursday, October 11, 2007

Forest Service Approves Fuels Treatment Projects for Lake of the Woods and Frazier Park Areas in Kern County

By: Los Padres National Forest
Published: Oct 11, 2007 at 08:13

Mt. Pinos District Ranger Tom Kuekes has authorized two projects to reduce hazardous fuels in Los Padres National Forest adjacent to the communities of Lake of the Woods and Frazier Park in Kern County. The projects are considered "high priority" by the Mt. Pinos Communities Fire Safe Council in their 2007 Community Wildfire Protection Plan, and will complement work being done on private property by the Kern County Fire Department.

According to Ranger Kuekes, approximately 175 acres of brush and small trees will be thinned in the Lake of the Woods project. "This project includes creation of a new �shaded fuelbreak' along a ridge south of Frazier Mountain Park Road," said Kuekes. "The fuelbreak will be up to 500 feet wide and about 1.5 miles long and is designed to retain some trees and brush for a more natural appearance."

Approximately 174 acres will be thinned in the Frazier Park project, including careful widening of the existing two-mile long fuelbreak north of the community.

Kuekes said the Forest Service will now seek funding to implement the two fuels projects. "We hope to begin the work very soon using our local Forest Service fire crews until additional funding is available."

The environmental analysis for the two projects began in 2006. For more information, contact the Mt. Pinos Ranger District office in Frazier Park at (661) 245-3731, or go online to www.fs.fed.us/r5/lospadres/projects/analysis.

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Thursday, October 11, 2007