Prescribed burning continues in GSN Monument

With spring conditions, fire crews have been conducting prescribed burning in Giant Sequoia National Monument, Sequoia National Forest. A 20-person Forest Service crew from Angeles National Forest has been assisting Sequoia fire personnel in the burning operations.

In the northern part of the Monument, 30 acres of hand piles were burned near Buck Rock Campground, and 50 acres along Huckleberry Road (Forest Road No. 13S02). An additional 100 acres are planned for burning along Huckleberry Road when conditions become favorable. There are over 500 acres of hand piles on the Hume Lake Ranger District needing treatment by prescribed fire.

Last week, the focus on the southern portion of the Monument was around Grouse Valley near Springville. Fire crews completed over 10 acres of hand pile burning and prepared many additional acres for future burning when weather conditions allow.

This week, crews are burning hand piles and scattered debris along Mountain Road 50 near California Hot Springs, and along the North Road (Forest Road No. 21S50) near Ponderosa. Crews burned more than 20 acres along Mountain Road 50 and the North Road, with an additional 600 acres planned.

Multiple agencies are assisting the Forest Service in abating the hazardous dead trees across the Monument. Crews continue to fall dead trees along travel routes to protect the public.

“I would like to thank our cooperators California Conservation Corps, Tulare County Fire Department, Southern California Edison, Caltrans, and Cal Fire in assisting the Forest Service efforts to reduce these hazards along our roads,” stated Western Divide District Ranger, Eric Laprice.

Forest Service fire managers coordinate their prescribed burning activities with the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District.

“Together, we are increasing the pace and scale of ecological restoration, using prescribed fires to increase the health and resiliency of our forests and prevent catastrophic wildfires that produce unhealthy levels of smoke and endanger property and natural resources,” stated Laprice.