Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

National Fire Plan banner

National Fire Plan Success Story

Planning Ahead and Providing Training Opportunities
Lassen Volcanic National Park, California
National Fire Plan - Fuels Reduction
2009

Crescent Prescribed Fire Block B looking across the Chaos Jumbles toward Lassen Peak.
Crescent Prescribed Fire Block B looking across the Chaos Jumbles toward Lassen Peak.

Looking across Manzanita Lake toward Lassen Peak Crescent Prescribed Fire Bock B.
Looking across Manzanita Lake toward Lassen Peak Crescent Prescribed Fire Bock B.

Lassen Volcanic National Park carefully monitored incoming weather and took advantage of a very small window of opportunity to complete the second unit of the Crescent Prescribed Fire project. Park staff initiated ground and aerial ignition operations just after a cool spell and immediately before the arrival of a significant storm. Identification of this window and efficient pre-planning was effectively used to facilitate containment and control as well as meet smoke management objectives. Prior planning included making contact with key burn personnel during a relatively short period of time to ensure that they were in position to implement the project within a two-day burn window ahead of the approaching storm. Key personnel who contributed to the success of this prescribed fire were neighboring U.S. Forest Service personnel, Whiskeytown National Recreation Area, personnel from the Pacific West Regional Office, contracted resources, and Lassen Volcanic National Park fire crews.

The fire organization provided training opportunities for individuals to enhance local, regional and national capabilities with regard to prescribed fire operations. The organization was successful at placing trainees with qualified individuals in three key fire positions, which included a Type 1 Burn Boss, Firing Boss and Fire Effects Monitor. All trainee assignments were completed and contributed to a successful project. The prescribed fire treated 1,176 acres and is part of the three-unit Crescent Prescribed Fire project which totals 1,847 acres.

After an unusually wet and cool June, fire crews capitalized on a small burn window in July to complete the first unit which totaled 551 acres. Conditions in the park rarely favor implementation of prescribed fire projects in July. The Crescent Prescribed Fire project is the first of several targeted to help facilitate wildland-urban interface protection while reintroducing fire as a beneficial and necessary process. The project lies between Chaos Crags and Manzanita Creek within an area which experienced large fire activity prior to 1918. The absence of fire in this historically fire adapted Jeffrey Pine ecosystem during the last 90 years has contributed to a heavy concentration of fuels. Natural fire in some of the pine forests occurred as often as every 12 to 25 years. Cyclic maintenance burns will be required in this area to mimic natural fire regimes and maintain forest health.

Contact: Eric Hensel, Fire Management Officer, (530) 595-4444 Ext. 5165; Tom Garcia, Assistant Fire Management Officer, (530) 595-4444 Ext. 5168.