News Release

Lassen Volcanic Planning Burn at Manzanita Lake

Date: September 21, 2023
Contact: Jim Richardson, 530-595-6101

Lassen Volcanic National Park Fire Management personnel plan to initiate a 135-acre prescribed fire in the Manzanita Lake area beginning September 23, depending on weather conditions. This prescribed fire continues the work of the multi-year Northwest Gateway Forest Restoration project (NWG).

Ignition is planned for Saturday, September 23 or Sunday September 24, and may continue into the following day. While there is potential for localized smoke for two to three days, and up to two weeks, impacts are expected to be minimal. The fire will be regularly staffed by Lassen Volcanic National Park and Lassen National Forest fire personnel and monitored until declared out.

The prescribed fire will take place in the Northwest Gateway Zone 1, which is in the northwest corner of Lassen Volcanic National Park, near the campgrounds, administrative buildings, and park staff residences. Closure of several Manzanita Loop B campsites will be required. Additional closures are not expected but may be necessary. Visitors are encouraged to check the park website at www.nps.gov/lavo for possible closure information prior to making plans to stay overnight in the Manzanita Lake area.

Fire management staff plan to ignite additional prescribed fires in the Manzanita Lake area throughout the fall, while conditions are favorable. Once significant precipitation has occurred, fire management personnel intend to ignite piled fuels that resulted from thinning projects throughout the park.

Fuel reduction through thinning and prescribed fire treatments help to produce more fire resistant and resilient fuel profiles by reducing overall stand density, ladder fuels, and surface fuels.