Lassen Volcanic National Park plans to hand ignite burn piles starting the week of October 3 continuing through October 17. These piles have been constructed in association with hazardous fuels reduction projects throughout the park. Weather forecasts for the majority of the pile locations are calling for snow later in the week which will provide favorable conditions for the pile burns.
Snow is predicted at elevations of 6,000 feet and higher. The Summit Lake campground piles are located at approximately 6,700 feet and are expected to receive snowfall over the next several days. "Now is the opportune time for our fire fighters to ignite the burn piles in this developed area while there is a lull between busy summer visitation and the closure of the park road due to successive winter storms." stated Superintendent Darlene M. Koontz.
Numerous piles have been constructed in and around the Summit Lake campground during the 2010 fire season, which have cured over the last 1 ½ years and are now receptive to successful burning operations. Fire crews stack the finer fuels in the center of these teepee like structures so that they will burn from the inside- out toward the larger fuels until they are completely consumed. Extensive fuels thinning projects around the Summit Lake campground will help protect the area against future unwanted high intensity wildland fires.
Fire crews hope to access the road to Warner Valley and Drakesbad and burn piles in that area also. There are a few miscellaneous piles scattered along the north boundary of the park near Crags Campground at approximately 6,000 feet which also are ready to burn if weather conditions permit.
"During all of these operations the safety of the public and our fire fighters is our number one priority," added Superintendent Koontz.
For more information, please contact the Park at (530) 595-4480 or for TDD at (530) 595-3480, Monday through Friday, except holidays, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
