News Release

Fall Presribed Fire Activities

NPS Photo

News Release Date: September 19, 2025

Contact: James Scott, [phone]

Redwood National and State Parks plans to conduct a series of prescribed burns this fall in the prairies and oak woodlands of the Bald Hills east of Orick, California. The prescribed fire season in the parks begins in late September, as weather conditions permit.

This year fire will be used as a management tool in seven specific burn units in the Bald Hills: Ganns Prairie, Upper Dolason, Lower Dolason, Lower Elk Camp, Upper Lyons, Lower Lyons, and South Boundary. The units combined are approximately 1,021 acres

For thousands of years, Yurok, Tolowa, and Chilula people managed prairies, oak woodlands, and some coastal areas that are now within the parks with periodic fire to keep them open. Intentional burning provided grazing and hunting areas for elk and deer, maintained important resources like tanoak trees and various basket weaving materials, kept trail and travel corridors open, and lessened the prevalence of parasites like ticks in the prairies. Early European Americans who later ranched these same lands continued the practice of broadcast burning until it was outlawed by the state in the 1930s. Since then, many of the prairies and oak woodlands have become encroached with Douglas fir and other conifers which can eventually eliminate these important plant communities.

The park’s Fire Management Plan provides for the use of fire to restore natural and cultural processes, manage exotic plants and conifers encroaching into prairie and oak woodland plant communities, and to educate the public about the role of fire in the parks. Since the early 1980s, the parks have successfully used prescribed fires to achieve these objectives.

If you are in the parks over the next couple of months, there will likely be additional activity and equipment on and near Bald Hills Road. Smoke may linger on the roadways and traffic control may be in place. Please be cautious for your safety as well as that of the fire crews.

Additionally, California State Parks North Coast Redwoods District will support prescribed burn efforts in other portions of the Redwood National and State Parks including Jedidiah Smith Redwoods State Parks.

For further information, please contact James Scott at [phone].
 

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Redwood National and State Parks share in the perpetual stewardship of ancient coast redwood forests, waterways, and coastline on the homeland of Yurok, Chilula, and Tolowa peoples; for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of everyone; with a commitment to restoration of damaged landscapes.