NEVADA CITY, Calif., Sept. 15, 2026—Tahoe National Forest will begin prescribed fire operations as soon as Oct. 1. Projects may continue as weather conditions allow through fall into winter. Prescribed fires help reduce overgrown vegetation and are one tool to help protect local communities, infrastructure and natural resources from wildfires. 

Each prescribed fire operation follows a specialized burn plan where temperature, humidity, wind, moisture of vegetation and smoke dispersal conditions are considered daily. This information is used to decide if and when to burn. If weather conditions warrant, scheduled prescribed fire activities may be canceled. 

Planned Tahoe National Forest prescribed fire projects include: 

American River Ranger District – Placer County 

  • Deadwood – Up to 300 acres of under burning past China Wall near Foresthill Divide Road 
  • French Meadows – Up to 300 acres of under and pile burning near French Meadows Reservoir 
  • Casa Loma – Up to 100 acres of pile burning off Interstate 80 / Alta and Emigrant Gap 
  • Up to 300 acres of additional pile burning planned across the district 

Sierraville Ranger District – Nevada, Sierra and Plumas Counties 

  • Calpine/Sattley – Up to 900 acres of under burning between Highway 89 and Forest Service Road 52 near the Mountain Quail Community 
  • Little Truckee Summit – Up to 500 acres of under burning west of Highway 89 and south of Forest Service Road 07 
  • Roadside Hazardous Fuels Reduction – Up to 40 acres of under burning along roadways near the Randolph area 
  • Up to 500 acres of additional pile burning planned across the district 

Truckee Ranger District – Sierra, Nevada and Placer Counties 

  • East Zone Roads – Up to 60 acres of under burning near Hobart Mills 
  • Klosser – Up to 500 acres of under burning near Klondike and Prosser Hill 
  • Stampede – Up to 20 acres of pile burning near the Stampede Reservoir area 
  • Alder 89 – Up to 20 acres of pile burning near Highway 89 North, Alder Creek and Prosser OHV Area 
  • Cabin Creek – Up to 120 acres of pile burning near Cabin Creek, Jackass Ridge and Forest Service Road 1 
  • Up to 15 acres of additional pile burning planned across the district 

Yuba River Ranger District – Nevada, Sierra and Yuba Counties 

  • Camp – Up to 300 acres of under burning near Camptonville 
  • Trapper – Up to 300 acres of under burning near Alaska Peak, Sleighville and Graveyard projects 
  • Bear Trap – Up to 30 acres of under burning near North San Juan 
  • Madrone Springs – Up to 300 acres of under burning off Highway 20/Madrone Spring Road, Nevada City 
  • Up to 500 acres of additional pile burning planned across the district 

Stay informed about the scheduled prescribed fire projects through Tahoe National Forest’s website and social media.