CLEARLAKE, Calif. — Cal Fire’s Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit will be assisting the Lake County Fire Protection District with a fuel management project over the next six weeks.

This project is going to be located within the city limits of Clearlake off Dam Road, behind the Tractor Supply and Big 5 Sporting Goods.

This project is to help reduce the fuel load in the field and to help increase fire protection for the
surrounding community and the City of Clearlake.

Lake County Fire Protection District and Cal Fire Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit would like to advise that smoke may be seen throughout the county from this project due to pile burning.

Controlled vegetation management burns are carefully planned and must meet strict criteria for
ecological benefit, weather parameters, smoke management, and fire safety guidelines.

When all conditions are met, trained wildland firefighters conduct the burn, while monitoring the set criteria, fire behavior and designated fire control lines.

Benefits of low-intensity burning in the natural environment include:

— Cleansing of wildland debris. Excessive nonnative grass thatch, dead and down branches, brush and small trees are burned, converting fuels that are hazards in the summer into rich soil nutrients.

— Controlling invasive species. Invasive species such as Medusahead can be effectively reduced through controlled burning, allowing native grass and forb species to recolonize their natural habitat. Native species are important food and habitat for a wide range of animals.

— Ecosystem health. Low intensity fire helps eliminate and control diseased plants and trees.

— Reduced opportunity for destructive fires. Controlled burns can decrease the size and frequency of large, uncontrolled destructive wildfires.

Learn more about fire safety or controlled burning and its benefits here.