Pile Burning Due In Lake Arrowhead Area

Pile burning will be taking place in North Lake Arrowhead January 31 near the intersection of Highway 173 and Grass Valley Road. (File Photo by Michael P. Neufeld)

By Michael P. Neufeld

Lake Arrowhead, CA – Smoke from pile burning may be visible in the Lake Arrowhead area on  January 31.

Firefighters from the U. S. Forest Service will be burning slash and debris piles near Rock Camp in North Lake Arrowhead just north of the intersection of Highway 173 and Grass Valley Road.

FUELS REDUCTION

The U.S. Forest Service reports the controlled burns are part of the on-going Lake Arrowhead community protection fuels reduction program.

The Forest Service reports that the ignition of all prescribed burns is dependent on the availability of personnel and equipment, appropriate conditions, and in coordination with the National Weather Service and South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) before and during prescribed burns in order to manage smoke production and minimize impacts as much as possible.

A burn plan is followeed by fire managers that outlines the “prescription” or environmental conditions such as temperature, wind, fuel moisture, ventilation, and relative humidity that need to be present before the project begins.

When the criteria are met, crews implement, monitor, and patrol each burn to ensure it meets the goals and objectives outlined by managers, according to a press release.

Signs will be posted along the roadways to alert passerby’s to the burning activity.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

For additional information, the public can call the Forest Service’s local offices to find out where burning is taking place:

• Big Bear Ranger Station & Discovery Center (909) 382-2790
• Lytle Creek Ranger Station (909) 382-2851
• Idyllwild Ranger Station (909) 382-2922
• Mill Creek Work Center (909) 382-2882
• Santa Rosa & San Jacinto Mountains National Monument (760) 862-9984

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