LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The U.S. Forest Service said it has plans this week to conduct pile burning in order to address hazard trees in the area above Lucerne.

Conditions have been ideal for prescribed fire with cool temperatures and wet weather. Dry and warmer weather returned over the weekend but an active weather pattern is in the forecast for this week.

Forest fire and fuels staff will look for additional burning opportunities this week pending favorable conditions.

Beginning March 10 to 16 firefighters on the Upper Lake Ranger District plan to burn potentially 96 acres of piles along the roadside in the Bartlett Springs area, located northeast of North Shore communities Nice and Lucerne.

There is potential for smoke to settle in the communities of Nice, Lucerne Glenhaven and other locations around Clear Lake.

Smoke may be visible along the Highway 20 corridor. Visibility on roads may be reduced, especially early in the morning and late evening as smoke settles.

Firefighters will be closely monitoring weather and will use wind direction, time of day and inversion levels to minimize impacts from smoke as much as possible.

All prescribed fire operations are approved by Lake County Air Quality Management District before beginning ignitions, and firefighters will carefully monitor and conduct patrols throughout burning operations.

This prescribed fire is part of an effort to reduce risks from hazard trees and maintain public safety and access for both the public and emergency personnel. Standing dead trees along roadsides have been cut and piled. Burning roadside piles will reduce hazardous fuels and is a critical step to prepare sites for reforestation.

More information about Mendocino National Forest’s prescribed fire operations is available online.