San Andreas, CA…The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) is conducting three prescribed burns in Tuolumne and Calaveras Counties the week of October 21, 2019. Prescribed burns are an effective tool to reduce hazardous fuel loading. The following prescribed burns are scheduled for next week:

On Monday, October 21st , approximately 400 acres of grass and oak woodland will be burned on the Crook Ranch Vegetation Management Plan (VMP) near Groveland in Tuolumne County. Smoke will be visible during the daytime hours in Groveland, Big Oak Flat, Tuolumne, and other areas of the county. The prescribed burn will help protect the communities of Groveland and Big Oak Flat by reducing hazardous fuel loading. Burning will commence at 10:00 A.M. and conclude at 6:00 P.M.

On Tuesday and Wednesday, October 22nd and 23rd, approximately 450 acres of grass, chamise, and oak understory will be burned on the Whittle Vegetation Management Plan (VMP) site, west of Angels Camp, along the east side of Fowler Peak Lookout. The prescribed burn will reduce hazardous fuel loading within the project area. Smoke will be visible from Angels Camp and Highway 49 and Highway 4. The prescribed burn will commence at 8:00 A.M. on Tuesday October 22nd and will conclude on Wednesday October 23rd. Burning will be conducted from 8:00 A.M. until 5:00 P.M.
each day.

On Thursday, October 24th, approximately 40 acres of grass and oak woodland will be burned to conduct live fire training on the Sardella Ranch in Tuolumne County. The training is designed to instruct fire line supervisors from around the state in proper techniques to plan and conduct firing operations during wildland fire suppression operations. Live fire training will commence at 10:00 A.M. and will continue until 5:00 P.M.

All three projects were postponed earlier this month due to weather conditions that were not conducive to burning. Conditions the week of October 21st – October 25th are expected to be favorable, and the Tuolumne-Calaveras Unit of CAL FIRE is committed to completing these important projects.

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