Forest crews burn brush above Lakeview development

Crews with the U.S. Forest Service are conducting burns above Lakeview in North Carson City through Friday.

USFS spokesman Franklin Pemberton said the burn will be nearest the homes in Lakeview today.

The burns are the second phase of a project to clear an area between Carson City homes and the forest.

"We are burning accumulated piles of brush that fire crews cleaned out last summer," he said. "We cleared out what we call ladder fuels, which allow flames into the treetops."

The brush was piled up last summer waiting for a good time to burn.

"It's time to start consuming those piles," Pemberton said. "It's warm and dry enough to get clean burns, but not so dry that it makes it risky to burn."

Crews will burn small piles of brush and small-diameter woody debris from hazardous-fuels reduction over the winter. Burning will be completed within the standards set by the Nevada Division of Environmental Quality, Washoe County Air Quality Management Division and approved USFS burn plan.

The Forest Service project is part of a general reduction of small brush near homes on both private and public land.

"When people see us doing this work, they see it as protecting homes from fires, and we are definitely reducing the risk," he said. "But as important is that we are protecting the forest from fires that could be started by the homes. It is a nice little buffer."

The fuel reduction is focusing on brush and leaving most of the trees.

"There is a lot of manzanita and bitter brush choking out the pines," he said. "If we can clear them out, we can help grow some fire-resistant Jeffrey pine."

Contact Kurt Hildebrand at hildebrand@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1215.