PRESCRIBED BURN: Lassen Volcanic National Park

Friday, April 18, 2008

PRESCRIBED BURN: Lassen Volcanic National Park

Lassen ready to light Mineral fire

MINERAL - Lassen Volcanic National Park staff plans to ignite a 50-acre prescribed fire in the park's headquarters area, at the western edge of the community of Mineral, along State Highway 36.

Ignition will begin in late April depending on weather conditions and is planned to occur over two to three days. The fire will be patrolled until declared out.

The goal of the project is to break up the continuity of the fuels which have accumulated unnaturally with the absence of fire.

Historically, fire burned regularly in these vegetation communities, every 5-20 years, thus shaping and maintaining this community. Reintroduction of fire and subsequent maintenance treatments of this area will help mimic historic and natural fire activity to preserve this vegetation community.

Completion of this project is also necessary to ensure protection of park headquarters, community developments and identified sensitive resources such as historic structures, split rail fences, riparian areas and cultural landscapes).

Approximately 95 percent of the project area has received manual thinning from below in recent years to help produce more fire resistant and resilient fuel profiles around the headquarters area.

These thinning operations will enable fire crews to effectively apply prescribed fire to the project area. The prescribed fire will be ignited in approximately seven-acre blocks to manage smoke, fire behavior and effects. Lassen Volcanic National Park usesprescribed fire, where appropriate, for the restoration of fire-dependent ecosystems and for species-specific resource management goals. Prescribed fire projects are conducted in a manner consistent with park and prescribed fire plans.

"The Mineral project is the first of several prescribed fires planned for 2008. I look forward to working with the surrounding communities as we manage fire for natural resource benefits and public safety," said Superintendent Darlene Koontz.

Information is available from the park at (530) 595-4444 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, except holidays.

Source: Article - redbluffdailynews.com

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Friday, April 18, 2008