Arnold, CA…Save the Redwoods League in cooperation with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) and California State Parks are planning to begin a prescribed burn on or around Friday, June 28, 2019 on its property adjacent to Calaveras Big Trees State Park on the northeast side. The goal is to complete the 20-acre Oak Leaf Spring unit (see yellow polygon on the map below). Ignition is expected to be completed in one day. The 20 acres were previously thinned, reducing the fuel loading and allowing for a safer and more controllable broadcast burn. Much of this work was funded through a Proposition 1 grant from the Sierra Nevada Conservancy and a Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund grant from CAL FIRE, both agencies of the State of California.

This burn is part of Save the Redwoods League’s stewardship program for vegetation management, hazardous fuel load reduction, and wildlife habitat improvement. Prescribed burns enhance the health of the forest by removing diseased materials, restoring essential nutrients to the soil, and reducing the chance of a catastrophic wildfire. Through forest thinning and reduction of fire fuels, an ecologically healthy forest system can be maintained.
An additional benefit of this prescribed burn includes buffer protection for the State Parks’ South Grove of giant sequoias.

Prescribed burns produce significantly less smoke than wildfires. To minimize the smoke impacts on surrounding communities, burns are planned and coordinated with CAL FIRE and the Tuolumne County Air District. 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 burns will be rescheduled.

Communities near Calaveras Big Trees State Park, including Dorrington, Big Trees Village, White Pines, Blue Lake Spring, and Arnold, may experience smoke from the burning operations. Save the Redwoods League is working with the Tuolumne County Air Pollution Control Districts to limit impacts to smoke sensitive areas.
Both Highway 4 and the Walter W. Smith Parkway will remain open but may experience delays due to smoke and other hazards. Please obey all warning signs.

Questions or comments about the projects or about the stewardship program should be directed to Anthony Castanos at (415) 362-2352.