The prescribed fire operations on Case Mountain conducted by the BLM’s  Bakersfield Field Office have been completed. These operations were part of an ongoing effort to burn about 1,000 piles of downed hazard trees, branches, and understory brush at Case Mountain Extensive Recreation Management Area to prevent wildfire risk.

This year’s ignitions started on November 19 and concluded on November 20.  Approximately 50 piles were burned over 20 acres. Mop up operations started on November 21 and concluded on December 4, with monitoring continuing. No other burn operations are planned for the winter.

According to the BLM, the prescribed burn was part of a multi-year fuels reduction effort in the BLM’s only giant sequoia groves to strategically thin trees; remove ladder fuels, which can feed flames to the treetops; and remove needles, branches, and brush on the forest floor. The prescribed fire will help increase protection of the wildland-urban interface for the town of Three Rivers and remove hazardous fuels near giant sequoia trees that could feed wildland fire at the recreation area.

“Partnerships are vital to managing sustainable, working public lands,” stated Bakersfield Field Manager Gabriel Garcia. “The prescribed burn is being done as part of a CalFire grant and a joint effort of the BLM, CAL FIRE, Tulare County Resource Conservation District, tribes, private landowners, and technical experts.”

Case Mountain encompasses approximately 18,500 acres of BLM-managed public lands and supports many sensitive plants and animals, important riverbank ecosystems, areas of cultural significance, and a 400-acre Giant Sequoia Complex with six distinct giant sequoia groves.

For more information, please contact the BLM Bakersfield Field Office at 661-391-6000.