CAL FIRE Press Release - WINTON-SCHAADS PRESCRIBED BURN

 San Andreas – The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) will be conducting a prescribed burn in the Lily Valley area east of West Point. The proposed 270 total acres included in the Winton-Schaads Prescribed Burn project slated for Fall 2011 will be divided up into smaller, approximately 20-30 acre areas which will be treated starting as early as October 31, 2011 with burns possible through mid-December. One to two CAL FIRE engines along with personnel from Sierra Pacific Industries (SPI) will conduct the burns.

          
This under story burn will treat bear clover, small conifers, brush and grass and will help protect the communities of West Point, Wilseyville, and Lily Valley as well as protect timber resources and the Mokelumne watershed.            
 A prescribed burn is a managed procedure of fire ignition in an area that has control lines in place, as well as, crews and equipment in strategic locations. 
A prescribed burning project is the result of extensive pre-planning involving studies of the vegetation types, fuel loading, weather patterns, topography, values at risk, and fire history.  An environmental analysis is made for each project, along with mitigation measures to address any foreseeable impacts that may be caused by the fire.           
The prescribed burn project will start with a small “test burn”, as a final check to ensure that conditions are within “prescription”.  If conditions are favorable, then the firefighters will begin ignition around the perimeter of the project allowing a low intensity slow burn to consume fuels within the project.           
Unit Chief, Brian Kirk, states that if the fuel moisture, temperatures, humidity and winds are favorable, the burn will proceed as scheduled.  If not, the project will be rescheduled.