NEVADA CITY, Calif., October 27, 2026 – Tahoe National Forest is planning to conduct a 185-acre prescribed fire off Madrone Springs Road near Nevada City, Calif. starting tomorrow Oct. 28, 2026. Ignitions may continue for several days, conditions permitting.
Smoke will be visible from Highway 20, Madrone Springs Rd., Washington Ridge and the greater Nevada City area.
Project: Madrone Springs Underburn
Units: L-85 acres, N-20 acres, I-25 acres, B-57 acres
Type of burn: Underburn
Total acreagepossible: 185
Ignition dates: Oct. 28 through Nov. 1, conditions permitting
Why Are We Burning?
The goal of this prescribed burn is to decrease the existing fire hazard and to prevent and reduce the impact of future fires in the area. Other benefits include enhancing wildlife habitat and reintroducing fire into a fire-adapted ecosystem.
Why Now?
Current conditions allow for prescribed burning. Each prescribed fire operation follows a prescribed fire burn plan, which considers temperature, humidity, wind, moisture of the vegetation, and conditions for the dispersal of smoke. This information is used to decide when and where to burn. The Tahoe National Forest strives to give as much advance notice as possible before burning, but some operations may be conducted on short notice.
Smoke
Smoke from prescribed fire operations is normal and may continue for several days after an ignition depending on the project size and environmental conditions. Smoke may settle into the valleys in the evening and lift in the morning. The Tahoe National Forest coordinates with state and local county air pollution control districts and monitors weather conditions closely prior to prescribed fire ignition. Crews also conduct test burns before igniting a larger area, to verify how effectively fuels are consumed and how smoke will travel.