Columbia, CA…California State Parks will conduct hand pile burns in Columbia State Historic Park (SHP) beginning as soon as March 10. Active pile burning will occur over several months in the Springfield, maintenance yard and Karen Bakerville Trail areas. All burning depends on weather conditions and resources. Smoke will be present and remain in the area after active burning has stopped.

This pile burning is part of a prescribed fire program for vegetation management, hazardous fuel load reduction, wildlife habitat improvement, enhancement of the health of the landscape by removing diseased materials, restoring essential nutrients to the soil, and reducing the chance of a catastrophic wildfire. Signage will be present at the beginning of roads and trails impacted by the pile burn operations. Please adhere to the signs and stay out of areas during active burning.

The planned work is funded by the State of California through the Wildfire and Forest Resiliency Program (WFRP). WFRP expands on critical land management that State Parks has been carrying out for decades and supports increasing the pace and scale of fuel treatments so that California’s State Park System can become an example of resilient ecosystems maintained through active stewardship.

Communities near Columbia SHP, including Columbia, Sonora, and Springfield, may experience smoke from the burning operations. Pile burning operations produce significantly less smoke than wildfires. The department plans and coordinates these burns with the Tuolumne County Air District to minimize the smoke in surrounding communities. All burning depends on weather and air quality conditions that are favorable for smoke dispersal. If the conditions, such as weather or vegetation are not conducive for burning, the department will reschedule the pile burning.

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The California Department of Parks and Recreation, popularly known as State Parks, and the programs supported by its Office of Historic Preservation and divisions of Boating and Waterways and Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation provides for the health, inspiration and education of the people of California by helping to preserve the state’s extraordinary biological diversity, protecting its most valued natural and cultural resources, and creating opportunities for high-quality outdoor recreation. Learn more at parks.ca.gov.