BLM, Maintaining Fuel Treatment Along Sierra Front

Carson City, - The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Carson City District is preparing to conduct maintenance treatment on previously constructed fuelbreaks on BLM administered lands along the Sierra Front. Periodic retreatment is required in order to maintain fuel break effectiveness and is scheduled for late May and June 2014.

The treatment areas are the west side of Petersen Mountain in Lassen County; Silver Knolls, Lemmon Valley, Hungry Valley, and New Washoe in Washoe County; Moundhouse in Lyon County; and North Carson, Prison Hill, Deer Run/Mexican Dam and Brunswick in Carson City.

Maintenance treatment will involve mechanical mowing, similar to the original treatments, to modify fuel structure and reduce potential fire intensity. Large shrubs in the treatment area not mowed in the original treatments would not be mowed during the re-treatment and the outside edges of the treatment area would remain irregular in shape. Treatment operations would be completed during daylight hours seven days a week, excluding holidays.

Land adjacent to many residential developments along the Sierra Front is public land administered by the BLM. Vegetation adjacent to many residential developments is highly flammable and under warm, dry, and windy weather conditions the risk of an intense damaging wildfire is high.

Home owners are encouraged to help us help you by removing hazardous fuels around your homes. The “Living with Fire” website, www.livingwithfire.info makes some excellent suggestions on how to make your homes more survivable in the event of a wildland fire. Should you have questions or concerns about the survivability of your home during a wildfire contact Dennis Terry, BLM Fire Mitigation Specialist, at 775-885-6197 for a home assessment. This assessment is conducted for free and will provide you with recommendations on how to reduce the risk of fire damage to your home.

For more information about the fuels maintenance, contact Tim Roide, Assistant Fire Management Officer - Fuels, at 775-885-6185, troide@blm.gov or Keith Barker, Fire Ecologist, at 775-885-6120, kdbarker@blm.gov.