NPS - National Park Service

05/14/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 05/14/2024 10:41

Planned Prescribed Fire at Mineral Headquarters Area

Date:
May 14, 2024
Contact:Carlo Arreglo, (530) 200-2903

MINERAL, CA - Lassen Volcanic National Park's fire management staff plan to initiate a 10-acre prescribed fire project in the Mineral Headquarters area in mid-May, depending on weather conditions. Ignition is expected to occur over 1 day with residual burn down predicted for up to one week after final ignition operations. The fire will be regularly staffed and monitored until it is declared out. Ignition will occur late morning or early evening, depending on wind direction with the goal of keeping smoke off State Highway 36.

This project is located at the western edge of the community of Mineral, CA, along State Highway 36 East and encompasses a portion of the Lassen Volcanic National Park administrative headquarters area. It lies among and directly adjacent to park administrative camp sites and the ballfield on the south side of State Highway 36 East.

The project area has received manual thinning in recent years to help produce more fire-resistant and resilient fuel profiles. Prescribed fire was implemented in the area in 2008. The goal of this project is to continue to break up the continuity of the fuels that have unnaturally accumulated in the area due to the absence of fire as a natural process. Historically, fire burned regularly (every 5-20 years) in this vegetation community, shaping and maintaining this natural environment. Reintroduction of fire and subsequent maintenance treatments within this area will help mimic historic and natural fire activity to preserve the historic vegetation community. Additionally, this project will help protect park and community infrastructure and other sensitive resources from undesired wildland fire events that may threaten the community.

The goal of the fire management program at Lassen Volcanic National Park is to use prescribed fire, where appropriate, for the restoration of fire-dependent ecosystems and for resource management goals. Prescribed fire projects are conducted in a manner consistent with park and prescribed fire plans.

For additional information about Lassen Volcanic National Park, please visit us at www.nps.gov/lavo; or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/LassenNPS, Twitter at www.twitter.com/LassenNPS, and YouTube at www.youtube.com/LassenNPS.

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