U.S. Forest Service crews could begin prescribed fires in the Angora fire area as soon as this week, according to a Friday statement from the Forest Service.
The burn piles border the neighborhoods surrounding Tahoe Mountain Road, Fallen Leaf Lake Road, North Upper Truckee Road, South Tahoe High School and Gardner Mountain.
Burning the piles is the last step in the fuels reduction process in certain areas of the Angora burn that have been treated by hand.
Fuels reduction using mechanical equipment continues in other parts of the burn area.
The efforts are intended to reduce the long-term risk of high intensity wildfire in the area.
If a window of good weather conditions occurs, crews will burn as much of the approximately 440 acres of piles as they can, according to the statement.
If crews light a significant number of acres at one time, the project may produce a smoke plume resembling that of a wildland fire.
Forest Service fire and fuels management staff monitor weather conditions closely prior to prescribed fire ignition, according to the statement.
The crews are looking for conditions that will carry smoke up and out of the Lake Tahoe Basin.
Crews conduct a test burn before igniting a larger area, to verify how effectively fuels are consumed and how the smoke will travel.
Other federal, state and local fire management agencies may also be conducting prescribed fire work during this period.
To receive prescribed fire updates, send an email to pa_ltbmu@fs.fed.us. Forest Service staff will post road signs around areas affected by prescribed fire and update the local fire information line at 530-543-2600, #6.
For more information, visit: www.fs.usda.gov/goto/ltbmu/RxFireOps.ᦚ