Following months of site preparation work by the Briceland Fuels Crew and Hybrid Indigenous Stewardship, weather conditions and resource availability aligned to conduct effective burning of 90 acres of meadow, oak and fir forest along one mile of Mail Ridge. Ignitions began on Wednesday, Sept 30th near a stand of ancient live oak on a hilltop just south of the intersection of Dyersville Loop and Fort Seward Rd. and crews returned for three additional days of work, finishing ignitions Friday evening, Oct 2nd. Firefighters remained on site each night and into the weekend to patrol and ensure all burning was within established control lines.
This work is part of a strategic shaded fuel break along Mail Ridge, removes ladder fuels, limits fir encroachment in the oak woodlands, provides protection from higher intensity wildfires and will help improve overall forest health. It also will support containment of future prescribed burns on the slope below.
Funding for the Southern Humboldt Forest Health Project is provided by CAL FIRE’s Forest Health Program, as part of California Climate Investments. California Climate Investments is a statewide program that puts billions of Cap-and-Invest dollars to work reducing GHG emissions, strengthening the economy, and improving public health and the environment – particularly in disadvantaged communities. The Cap-and-Invest program also creates a financial incentive for industries to invest in clean technologies and develop innovative ways to reduce pollution. California Climate Investments projects include affordable housing, renewable energy, public transportation, zero-emission vehicles, environmental restoration, more sustainable agriculture, recycling, and much more. At least 35 percent of these investments are located within and benefiting residents of disadvantaged communities, low- income communities, and low-income households across California.
