Lake Tahoe, CA/NV…U.S. Forest Service fuels management crews will begin prescribed fire operations on Kingsbury Grade near South Benjamin today, August 9, 2011. Crews expect to accomplish approximately four acres. Operations will also take place on Plumas Circle in the Pioneer Trail area. Crews will treat a small area, approximately one-half of an acre. Both operations are expected to last through Wednesday, August 10, 2011. All prescribed fire operations are dependent on weather and available staffing.

Residents and visitors can expect to see smoke from prescribed fire project areas. Smoke management is part of every prescribed fire burn plan, and efforts will be taken to reduce actual or potential smoke impacts on community areas.

This and other prescribed fire projects are designed to reduce wildfire risks to communities and critical resources.

State and local fire management agencies may also be conducting prescribed fire work during this period.

For more information, visit our website at http://www.fs.usda.gov/goto/ltbmu/RxFireOps .

To learn more about the efforts to reduce catastrophic wildfire risks in the Tahoe Basin read the Lake Tahoe Basin Multi-jurisdictional Fuel Reduction Plan found at http://fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fsm9_045864.pdf.

Take a few moments to visit an excellent web site and learn about Prescribed Fire vs. Wildfire at: http://www.smokeybear.com/prescribed-fires.asp.