Smoke From Forest Burn Visible Next Month

STF map

Sonora, CA — Stanislaus National Forest fire officials will ignite the Irish O’Manuel Underburn prescribed burn on the Calaveras Ranger District next month to reduce fuels on the land.

Over 300 acres will be set ablaze northeast of Arnold along Forest Road 5N52/Summit Level Road, north of White Pines Reservoir. The acreage will be burned in blocks, which sizes may vary based on environmental conditions and smoke production, according to fire officials.

The low-intensity underburn is slated to begin Nov. 1 and continue through the fall as long as conditions allow. Fire officials detail, “The goal is to enhance public and firefighter safety by reducing the build-up of dead and down fuels and to reduce the threat of high-intensity wildfire while protecting watershed values and wildlife habitat by creating a mosaic pattern of vegetation.”

Smoke may be visible from Highway 4 and surrounding communities.

Fire officials ask that the public not report this burn as a wildland fire.