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WILLOWS, Calif., June 13, 2024 – Fire personnel with the Mendocino National Forest’s Grindstone Ranger District are planning an interagency prescribed burn at the Red Bluff Recreation Area on June 20-21, pending favorable weather conditions. Firefighters will attempt up to 400 acres of understory burning to reduce nonnative starthistle. The location of the recreation area is south of Hwy 36 and east of I-5 and within the Red Bluff city limits.

Forest staff are carefully coordinating the 400-acre maintenance burn with partners, including CAL-FIRE Tehama-Glenn Unit, City of Red Bluff Fire Department and the Paskenta Band of Nomlaki Indians.

“The first entry (of prescribed burning) into this area produced an amazing new grass crop, reaching in some areas approximately four feet tall. We also saw the return of native wheat growing in areas of the recreation site,” said Michael Davis, Grindstone Ranger District Fire Management Officer.

“This prescribed fire during fire season would give us the ability to reduce the remaining nonnative yellow starthistle before it can flower and produce seeds. This action will also lesson the possibility of unplanned fires in the recreation area spreading to cooperator lands or vice versa,” said Davis.

In September 2023, interagency firefighters conducted a prescribed burn in the area to protect private residences and business along Sale Lane and provide a training opportunity. Reintroducing low-intensity frequent fire to the area can decrease risk of future wildfire and help restore fire-dependent native plant communities. Fire crews will be working with Paskenta Band of Nomlaki Indians to promote cultural burning practices during the burn.

“Coordination with the Paskenta Band of Nomlaki Indians, as stewards of this territory, is critical to return this area back to pre-contact conditions,” said Laverne Bill, Tribal Historic Preservation Officer.

Fire managers are also coordinating with local landowners in the area to use private roads for containment lines.

Vegetation in the planned units is primarily grass with several small piles of woody debris, shrubs and downed trees. Personnel are timing the burn to help mitigate invasive, nonnative yellow starthistle, which produces buds and flowers in June. Prescribed burning in early summer can help prevent the plant from setting seed later in the season. Firefighters will also protect special ecological and cultural resources, including elderberry plants and gray willows used for basketweaving.

Access to the Red Bluff Recreation Area will be limited, and firefighters ask the public to avoid the area during prescribed fire operations. Smoke may be visible in the city of Red Bluff and along the I-5 corridor. Individuals who are sensitive to smoke are encouraged to take precaution and minimize exposure. For those with a reservation at Camp Discovery or Sycamore Grove campgrounds, an escort will be provided.

The Red Bluff Recreation Area, a popular camping, birding and picnic destination, has seen several fuels reduction and restoration activities over the years, including prescribed fire, goat grazing, pile burning and chipping woody debris to reduce wildfire hazards.

A map and photos of the prescribed burn units are included in this news release. Additional updates about the burn will be shared on the Mendocino National Forest website and social media @MendocinoNF, @CALFIRETGU, @RedBluffFireDepartment and Paskenta Band of Nomlaki Indians.