TRUCKEE, Calif. — The Truckee Ranger District will begin spring prescribed burning in the Truckee area as weather permits, officials announced last week.

“By burning the forest vegetation and debris in the fall or spring, we can have many of the ecosystem benefits of fire while lessening the intensity of future wildfires,” said Linda Ferguson, District Fuels Management Officer, in a press release.

Weather is the biggest factor in determining when a prescribed burn can begin, Ferguson said, and temperature, humidity, fuel moisture and wind conditions are monitored for the right conditions.

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Within the Truckee Ranger District of the Tahoe National Forest, underburning is planned near Stampede and Boca Reservoirs.

Forest Service fuels management personnel work closely with the California Air Resources Board and various air quality management districts to minimize smoke impacts to communities, Ferguson said.

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Not all smoke can be avoided, however, and at times, smoke will settle into low areas and drainages during the evenings and last into the next morning.

“We ask that anyone who needs to be notified of a burn due to potential smoke impacts … contact us ahead of time so that we can notify them when a day of burning is beginning,” Ferguson said.

Those seeking up-to-date prescribed fire information can be added to the Truckee Ranger District a pre-burn notification email list. To be added, contact Ferguson at 530-587-3558.

For general information on prescribed fire, residents can visit the TNF website.