Sonora, CA…The Stanislaus National Forest provides the following information about planned prescribed burns on the forest. General and Specific Location: Dry Meadow Underburn, Summit Ranger District. The prescribed fire is located approximately six miles northeast of Pinecrest along Forest Road 5N02, in the vicinity of Dry Meadow Fire Station, Township 5N, Range 17E, Sections 2,3,4,22,23,26,34,35. This project is a planned prescribed fire. Please do not report as a wildfire.

Projected Duration: Ignition of the Dry Meadow Underburn may commence as early as Oct. 7, 2019 and continue through November while conditions allow. 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.

Planned Size of Prescribed Burn: Up to 628 acres may be treated with low-intensity fire, with planned ignition on approximately 50-150 acres daily. The number of acres completed may vary with weather and fuel moisture conditions, as well as permissible air quality burn days. Visit https://www.fs.usda.gov/news/stanislaus/news-events to view a map of the prescribed burn area.

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 4 or 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.

# # #

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.