Lone Pine Fire Safety Council
The Lone Pine Fire Safe Council was established in 2001 with the mission of protecting the residents of Lone Pine by providing an increased awareness and education in fire safe practices and to reduce the threat of wildfires to the community and surrounding areas.
In April of 2009, the LPRSC applied for a grant from the U.S. Forest Service to reduce the threat from wildland fires and provide education and outreach for the town of Lone Pine. Our grant request was successful and we have now completed the environmental requirements to implement the project.
Our goal is to use our funding to create a break in the continuity of the fuels in and around Lone Pine. This will not only slow a wildfire as it approaches the community, it will also give fire fighters a safe area to operate for structure protection. As the Oak Fire approached Independence a few years ago, dozers were used to try to accomplish this same mission. In emergency situations like that one, wildlife habitat and cultural resources become victims as well. But, with planning and fuels reduction efforts, damage to structures, people and natural resources can be minimized.
With the preliminary studies completed, actual fuel reduction will begin in February 2011. All phases are on LADWP owned land. Some sites will use heavy equipment to break down (masticate) large fuel. Some of these areas will also have prescribed burns associated with the clearing. Smoke will be visible at times. CAL FIRE will perform the burning with experienced crews and safe fire breaks to ensure containment. Three areas: 2 north of Narrow Gauge Rd., and one north of the airport and south-east of the Lone Pine Paiute-Shoshone Reservation. Five additional, smaller sites are closer to town structures. These will be treated by hand clearing and chipping. Noise will be limited to weekdays and end by 5pm each day.
Following these projects, LPFSC hopes to receive funding for other needed fuel reduction in and around our town.
The Recent Flyer:
Lone Pine Fire Safety Council
In 2009, the Lone Pine Fire Safe Council (LPFSC) received a grant from the U.S. Forest Service to reduce the threat from wildland fires to the town of Lone Pine. The build up of heavy fuel loading on these lands poses the greatest risk to Lone Pine from wildfire.
Our goal is to use our funding to create a break in the continuity of the fuels that will not only slow a wildfire as it approaches the community, but also gives fire fighters a safe area to operate for structure protection. As the Oak Fire approached Independence in 2007, dozers were used to accomplish this same mission.
With the combined effort of this council, LADWP, CAL FIRE, LPPSR, and the Anchor Ranch we have completed the environmental planning and are beginning the implementation of fuel reduction in several locations around Lone Pine.
Private contractors and CAL FIRE crews will start work in February, and may continue off and on for most of this year. Treatments include mowing (mastication), prescribed burns, fence line clearing, thinning and clearing of dead and live vegetation,and chipping.
Smoke will be visible and may impact our area from the locations north of Narrow Gauge Rd. and north of the airport during the burns scheduled for the first phase.
Chair, Lone Pine Fire Safe Council |
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