Auburn, Calif. May 9, 2019 – Smoke may be visible in the Colfax area starting May 10, 2019 and may continue for several weeks.
In coordination with the Placer County Air Pollution Control District, CAL FIRE/Placer County Fire department will be conducting pile burning operations at near the Colfax City Water Treatment Facility on Grandview Way in Colfax. Weather conditions permitting, the burn will begin Friday May 10 at 09:00 am.
This burn will help reduce the fuel loading on approximately 100 acres of overgrown conifer oak woodlands removing brush and numerous small trees. This project is part of Phase I of a strategic fuel break to help protect the community of Colfax and vital infrastructure. This project was identified by CAL FIRE upon the direction of Governor Newsom Executive Order N-05-19 as reported in the Community Wildfire Prevention & Mitigation Report. Upon project completion, it will help to protect both the community of Colfax and the vital transportation corridors of Interstate 80 and the Union Pacific Rail Road. The project will also help to restore the vital ecological function of this portion of the ecosystem making it more fire resilient. This resiliency provides clean air and water, reducing the effects of climate change, while creating biodiversity for wildlife.
The burn will be ignited starting around 9:00 a.m. and will last for several weeks based upon weather and safe burning conditions. Smoke will be visible in the Colfax Area and will be visible from the Cape Horn and Iowa Hill areas.
Resources will be at scene and will vary given the burning conditions. Additional traffic of fire engines and other vehicles will be present on Iowa Hill Road and Grand View Way as they travel to and from the project site.