Sonora, CA…The Stanislaus National Forest provides the following information about planned prescribed burns on the forest. General and Specific Location: South Fork Underburn, Mi-Wok Ranger District. The prescribed fire is located north of Highway 108 near forest Service Rd 2N63 Italian Bar Rd, and 3N99. Locations are Township 3N Range 16E Sections 33, 27, 26. To view a map of the prescribed burn visit https://www.fs.usda.gov/news/stanislaus/news-events.This project is a planned prescribed fire. Please do not report as a wildland fire.

Projected Duration: Ignition of the South Fork Underburn may commence as early as Oct. 15, 2018. Start date and burn days may vary slightly and are contingent on weather, fuel moisture, and air quality. All burning is monitored and conducted in accordance with state and county air quality guidelines and closely coordinated with local county air quality control districts. To view the vicinity map for this prescribed burn visit https://www.fs.usda.gov/news/stanislaus/news-events.

Planned Size of Prescribed Burn: A total of 67 acres are to be treated with low-intensity fire, with planned ignition on approximately 100 acres daily. The underburn is divided into 2 units, ranging in size from 20 to 47 acres. Number of acres completed may vary with weather and fuel moisture conditions, as well as permissible air quality burn days.

Type of Prescribed Burn: Low-intensity underburn

Burn Project Objectives: The goal of this prescribed burn is to enhance public and firefighter safety by reducing the build-up of dead and down fuels and to reduce the threat of high-intensity wildfire while protecting watershed values and wildlife habitat by creating a mosaic pattern of vegetation.

Public Benefits: Prescribed burning is an effective, cost efficient method of reducing flammable forest fuels, improving firefighting capabilities, and reducing the impacts of large uncontrolled damaging wildland fires. Smoke may be visible from highways 108 and surrounding communities. Fire managers are working closely with local air districts and the California Air Resources Board to mitigate the effects of smoke on the public.

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