Rx Burning Commences on the Kern River RD
U.S. Forest Service
KERNVILLE, CA., Thursday, November 14, 2024 — Today, the Kern River Ranger District kicks off the prescribed (Rx) burning season with a planned ignition and an expected target of approximately 20 acres of hand piles near the Breckenridge community in the Kern River Ranger District. In the coming months of winter into spring, multiple project sites will be part of the burn plan for the Kern River Ranger District fire and fuels program.
Weather conditions play a crucial role in the prescribed burning process. Fire and fuels management conduct thorough surveys to properly evaluate the conditions for prescribed burning. This evaluation is done before, during, and after an ignition takes place. “After the light precipitation we received last week, conditions are now conducive to an effective and safe burn window to begin our annual prescribed burning season”, says acting District Ranger Brian Block.
Our commitment to safety is unwavering. The day before an Rx burn is planned, our fire and fuels managers coordinate with the local air pollution control district and obtain a spot weather forecast report from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). If weather parameters are met and approved, partner agencies, including the Kern County Fire Department and Bureau of Land Management, are notified, and dispatch centers are made aware that the Rx burn will begin. This meticulous planning and coordination ensure the safety of our prescribed burns.
Subject to air board approval and weather conditions, the next few months will likely bring opportunities for fuels personnel to effectively plan for more prescribed burns.
For air board information on areas surrounding the Kern River Valley, visit Eastern Kern APCD at kernair.org and San Joaquin APCD at valleyair.org.
For updates on Rx burns, please visit our Sequoia National Forest webpage at Sequoia National Forest webpage, and Facebook @SequoiaNF.
