Lassen Volcanic National Park Plans to Burn a Unit of the Crescent Prescribed Fire Project

Date: May 18, 2009
Contact: Darlene M. Koontz, 530-595-4444 x5101

Lassen Volcanic National Park plans to initiate the Crescent Prescribed Fire Project following the Memorial Day weekend. This burn project will take advantage of a burn window sometime between May 26th and June 20th. The entire project consists of three units totaling 1,847 acres. Park Fire Management is planning to ignite approximately 551 acres of the overall project area this spring and complete the remaining project area during Fall. “The park intends to burn gradually to lessen smoke impacts to park visitors and the public,” stated Superintendent Darlene M. Koontz. The project lies between Chaos Crags and Manzanita Creek within an area which historically experienced large fire activity during 1918. The excessive fuel accumulations since 1918 have increased the risk of more intense and severe fires in this highly visited part of the park.

Special features within the project area include the public drinking water source for the Manzanita Lake developed area and a unique hardwood and riparian corridor along Manzanita Creek. Specific protections have been designed in consideration of these features. “Park fire staff works closely with the Water Treatment Specialist and the Wildlife Biologist to protect these valuable resources during ignition operations,” Koontz said.

Fire suppression in this highly fire dependent ecosystem during the last 90 years has created a heavy concentration of fuels. Use of periodic prescribed fires within the project area will help preserve valuable park developments and natural resources by reducing the risk of high intensity and severe fires associated with excessive fuel accumulations.

For more information, please contact the Kohm Yah-mah-nee Visitor Center at [phone] daily from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, or visit the park website at www.nps.gov/lavo where you can find fire management information through the “management” link.