Lassen Volcanic National Park to Continue the Loomis and Crescent Prescribed Burn Projects

Date: June 25, 2010
Contact: Darlene M. Koontz, 530-595-4444 ext. 5101

Lassen Volcanic National Park fire staff plans to take advantage of a projected burn window sometime between Monday, June 28^th and Monday July 19^th to reintroduce fire into the park. These burns called the Loomis Prescribed Fire and the Crescent Prescribed Fire are 33 and 226 acres respectively. The Loomis project is west of Manzanita Lake near the Park’s North Entrance. The Crescent Prescribed Fire is located just east and south of the Manzanita Lake Campground.   A “burn window” occurs when conditions are favorable to conduct a prescribed fire. Favorable conditions include: wind, moisture in combustible materials (fuel moisture), moisture in the air (relative humidity) and temperature. Wind direction is an important element to consider in order to keep significant smoke away from populated areas. “A lot of planning along with good weather produces a favorable window necessary to accomplish our prescribed burn projects,” stated Superintendent Darlene Koontz.

The Loomis Prescribed Fire area has been mechanically thinned in recent years to reduce overall forest density. Approximately 95% of the site was thinned from below in recent years to help produce more fire resistant and resilient forest fuels within this high use area. 

Personnel from Whiskeytown National Recreation Area, Lava Beds National Monument and Lassen National Forest will be on hand to assist the park with these projects. “Cooperation and collaboration with our neighboring cooperators is critical to accomplishing our fire management goals,” added Superintendent Koontz...

For more information, please contact the park at 530/595-4480 daily except holidays, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m or log on to the park website at www.nps.gov/lavo and choose fire management.