Prescribed burning planned for Butterfly Valley this week

Prescribed burning is planned this week in the Butterfly Valley area on the Mount Hough Ranger District of the Plumas National Forest, conditions permitting.

Approximately 250 acres of under burning is planned within a Defensible Fuel Profile Zone to improve forest health and return fire to a fire-adapted ecosystem.  Ignitions are expected to continue through Friday as conditions allow.

Smoke is expected to be visible but not have significant long-term impacts to communities.  Short duration, minor smoke impacts are expected to the community in Keddie and Butterfly Valley.

Visibility on roads in the project area may be reduced, especially early in the morning and late evening as smoke settles.  Drivers in the area should use caution.

Burning will only take place on burn days established by the Northern Sierra Air Quality Management District.

If weather conditions become unfavorable, including increased or gusty winds in the area, burning will stop until conditions improve.

“We appreciate the patience of residents and visitors in the area as we continue fuel reduction and treatment in the Butterfly Valley area,” said Mount Hough District Fuels Technician Dan Patterson.  “Care is being taken in this area as work continues following pile burning that took place a few weeks ago.”

For more information on the Plumas National Forest, visit www.fs.usda.gov/plumas, follow the forest on Twitter @USFSPlumas or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/USFSPlumas.