NEVADA CITY, Calif. (April 24, 2024) — Tahoe National Forest plans to begin spring prescribed fire operations as early as April 29, 2024, dependent on fuels and weather conditions. Planned burn locations and timelines to complete projects may vary across the forest.
Each prescribed fire operation follows a specialized burn plan, wherein temperature, humidity, wind, vegetation moisture and smoke dispersal conditions are considered daily before a prescribed fire is implemented. All this information is used to decide if and when to burn.
Prescribed fires help reduce fuels and overgrowth, which reduces the severity of future wildfires. Prescribed burns also restore forest health and diversity and provide added protection for surrounding communities in the event of a wildfire.
Smoke produced from planned prescribed burns is less than unplanned wildfires. Prescribed fire now can prevent the impacts or spread of wildfire later.
Upcoming prescribed burns include:
American River Ranger District
- Rice Creek Underburn – 260-acre underburn near French Meadows Reservoir as part of the French Meadows Forest Restoration Project
- Biggie Project – Up to 269 acres of underburning over several units near Placer Big Trees Grove
Sierraville and Truckee Ranger Districts
- East Zone Roadside Underburn – 400 acres of underburning along Forest Service roads across both districts
Yuba River Ranger District
- Madrone Springs – 300-acre underburn in Nevada City off Highway 20 near Harmony Ridge
- Yuba Unit A – 1200-acre underburn near Bassetts and Gold Lakes Highway
Stay informed:
- Sign up to receive prescribed fire alerts and news from the Tahoe National Forest here: https://bit.ly/TahoeNews
- Prescribed fire project timelines, updates and images will also be shared on Inciweb
- The Tahoe National Forest Fire Information Line can be reached at (530) 264-8309