Kern River Ranger District to Initiate Sherman Pass Landing Pile Burn

The Kern River Ranger District fire officail will conduct pile burning on the Sherman Pass Landing Wednesday November 8th to reduce heavy fuels within the area susceptible to wildfire. Pile burning operations are expected to last 10 days, depending on weather conditions and no raod or trail closures are anticipated.

Forest Personnel work closely with San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District to manage smoke prodution and reduced the impact on communities, roads and highways. Crews will remain on-site to closely monitor conditions and mange any potential risks. Although piles may smolder and burn for several days after ignition, crews will monitor them until they are declared out.

Smoke will be visible along Sherman Pass Road. When smoke is present, motorists should reduce speed and turn on headlights. Piles may smolder, burn and produce smoke for several days after ignition. While smoke may linger in the area, removing these large accumalations of woody debris minimizes the threat of wildfire. Recurring treatments are necessary to maintain defense effectiveness aswell as, to promote ecosystem health, restoration, and resilency.

Prescribed burns are a proactive approach to fire and vegetation (fuels) managements in the Sequoia National Forest, Lessening the impact and intensity of catastrophic wildfire, and providing healthier resource condotions.

For more information please email SM.SequoiaNF@usda.gov and follow us on the Sequoia National Forest Facebook SequoiaNF or visit our website at www.fs.usda.gov/Sequoia for current information.