MOUNTAIN CENTER – U.S. Forest Service firefighters are slated to start controlled burns today southeast of Mountain Center in the San Bernardino National Forest, and officials advised residents and visitors to the area not to be alarmed by the smoke.
According to the Forest Service, 25 acres are targeted for reduction along Highway 74, south of Highway 243, in an area known as Garner Valley.
Federal firefighters had been conducting prescribed burns around Thomas Mountain to the north, but those operations were paused to allow time for slash pile burning in the valley, as a means of reducing excess vegetation that could fuel wildfires, officials said.
Additional burn operations in the valley are scheduled Friday and Saturday.
During winter, conditions are generally safe for burns, which are closely monitored and immediately suspended when there are signs of increasing winds or extremely low humidity, according to the USFS.
Forest Service officials said people using hiking trails and bike paths, as well as visiting campgrounds, on the Riverside County side of the 676,000-acre national preserve should not be frightened by the smoke. No access points are slated for closure during the burns.
Slash pile burning involves torching piles of brush to clear space around buildings and trails.
Copyright 2022, City News Service, Inc.
Forest Service officials said people using hiking trails and bike paths, as well as visiting campgrounds, on the Riverside County side of the 676,000-acre national preserve should not be frightened by the smoke. No access points are slated for closure during the burns.
Slash pile burning involves torching piles of brush to clear space around buildings and trails.
Copyright 2022, City News Service, Inc.
