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National Fire Plan Success Story

Stony Ridge Designated Fire Protection Zone (DFPZ)
Beckwourth Ranger District, Plumas National Forest
National Fire Plan - Fuels Reduction
April 2004

The Stony Ridge DFPZ is located on the Plumas National Forest, Beckwourth Ranger District. Stony Ridge is adjacent to the Antelope Lake Recreation Area, as well as the communities of Janesville and Milford. The project area is comprised of Eastside Pine, mixed conifer, timber, sage, bitter brush, and grass.

The intent of the Stony Ridge DFPZ is to promote the ecological and economic health of the national forest and surrounding communities. This was accomplished by mechanical thinning in the conifer stands, hand thinning, prescribed burning, grapple piling, and mastication of fuels. The bulk of the work occurring on the Stony ridge DFPZ was accomplished by two separate contract entities, Firestorm and Summit. Thinning has reduced canopy cover and ladder fuels. Open forest stands dominated by fire resistant tree species and crowns sufficiently spaced to limit the spread of crown fire are the results of these actions.

Stony Ridge project area before treatment
Project area before treatement. Photo courtesy of Jo Ann Fites.

Stony Ridge project area after the Antelope Complex fire
Project area post-fire. Photo courtesy of Jo Ann Fites.

This project was completed three years prior to the ignition of the Antelope Complex. On the Wheeler Fire of the Antelope Complex, Jo Ann Fites, Fire Behavior Assessment Team, produced a lengthy report regarding fire behavior, suppression, fuel treatment, and protected areas. According to her report, throughout the fire, firefighters utilized fuel treatment areas when nearby to conduct their burn operations. The Stony DFPZ was on the east flank of the fire. Photo documentation shows that spot fires went out or were easily contained by fire suppression resources.

At one point during the fire, members of the team and senior fire staff from the Plumas National Forest were cut off from their escape route by intense crown fire. These people were able to safely exit the area through a DFPZ that moderated fire behavior.

In several areas of the Stony DFPZ, direct attack was possible, thereby minimizing resource damage. This included stands where tree mortality was minimal due to the DFPZ being in place prior to ignition.

Contact: Don Fregulia, (530) 836-7176