Sonora, CA…Fire managers on the Stanislaus National Forest will begin pile burning operations across the forest, as soon as this week, to reduce the more than 60,000 piles across the landscape.

“We’ll focus the majority of our work near communities and homes to reduce the number of piles within that wildland urban interface,” said Forest Prescribed Fire and Fuels Officer, Dan Guse.

Operations will be contingent on favorable weather conditions as well as availability of resources. As fire managers identify areas for burning more specific information will be provided.

Fire management officials work with California Air Resources Board and Tuolumne / Mariposa County Air Pollution smoke specialists to plan prescribed burns. Prescribed burns are conducted when weather is most likely to move smoke up and away from our communities. While prescribed fire managers take significant preventive measures, it’s likely that communities may experience some smoke during or immediately after a prescribed burn.

What does this mean for you?

• During prescribed burns, smoke may settle in low-lying areas overnight and in the early morning hours.

• All residents are encouraged to close doors and windows at night to avoid smoke impacts.
• If available, use a portable air cleaner. Air cleaners work best running with doors and windows closed. You can also create a DIY air cleaner.
• If you have a central air system, use it to filter air. Use high-efficiency filters if possible.
• When driving in smoky areas, drivers should slow down, turn on headlights and turn air to recirculating.
• If you have heart or lung disease, asthma, or other chronic conditions, pay attention to how you feel and if symptoms of heart or lung disease worsen, consider contacting your health care professional.
• Visit When Smoke is in the Air for more smoke preparedness resources.

Weather conditions are evaluated regularly up to hours before a burn begins. If conditions warrant, scheduled prescribed fire activities may be canceled.

For more information, contact Stanislaus National Forest Public Affairs Officer, Benjamin Cossel at benjamin.cossel@usda.gov.

About the Forest Service: The USDA Forest Service has for more than 100 years brought people and communities together to answer the call of conservation. Grounded in world-class science and technology– and rooted in communities–the Forest Service connects people to nature and to each other. The Forest Service cares for shared natural resources in ways that promote lasting economic, ecological, and social vitality. The agency manages 193 million acres of public land, provides assistance to state and private landowners, maintains the largest wildland fire and forestry research organizations in the world. The Forest Service also has either a direct or indirect role in stewardship of about 900 million forested acres within the U.S., of which over 130 million acres are urban forests where most Americans live.