2016 Pile Burning in Lassen Volcanic National Park

Date: October 14, 2016
Contact: Steve Gibbons, 530-595-6102

MINERAL, CA – Lassen Volcanic National Park plans to ignite burn piles within the next several weeks as the region transitions to fall seasonal conditions. Park fire crews will take advantage of the changing weather conditions to complete fuels reduction projects throughout the park. These cooler and wetter conditions will limit fire spread beyond project areas. “This hazardous fuel reduction activity is a critical part of the process to protect park facilities and improve safety for park visitors,” stated Park Superintendent Steve Gibbons. This season’s emphasis will be placed on the Manzanita and Juniper Lake areas.

Numerous piles have been constructed as part of fuels reduction projects throughout the park. Piles are generally constructed by hand into a teepee shape with finer fuels in the center and larger fuels towards the outside. This arrangement helps contribute to better pile consumption and shelters the finer fuels – keeping them dry so that fire fighters can ignite piles even after some precipitation has fallen. Piles intended for burning are all associated with hazardous fuel reduction projects designed to protect park infrastructure and minimize intensity from unwanted wildfires. These piles have cured over the last several years making them ideal for burning at this time.

For more information, and specific information regarding pile burn locations, please visit the park website at www.nps.gov/lavo or contact the park at [phone] from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Visit us at www.nps.gov/lavo, on Facebook www.facebook.com/LassenNPS, Twitter www.twitter.com/LassenNPS, and YouTube www.youtube.com/LassenNPS.

-NPS-