Amador County – The U.S. Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Land Management on Monday announced plans to burn piles of wood at its Pine Hill Preserve.

David Christy of BLM’s Mother Lode Field Office said the Bureau plans to start burning piles on Monday, April 11 at the Pine Hill Preserve in western El Dorado County, if conditions allow.

Brian Mulhollen, BLM fuels management specialist, said the “management of fuel loading at strategic areas of the Pine Hill Preserve allows us to reduce high levels of fuel near residences and will help us to protect the unique biological diversity that exists within the preserve lands.”

Pile burning will start on the fuel break behind residences near Este Vista and Sudbury drives, working toward Meder Road through the spring as conditions allow.

BLM has set up an information line at (916) 941-3155 and will have staff at an information booth at Sudbury and Este Vista drives. The pile burning is being coordinated with the California Department of Fire Protection, the El Dorado County Air Quality Management District and the Cameron Park Community Services District.

As part of ongoing fuel management efforts at the Pine Hill Preserve, the BLM will burn vegetation cut and piled at strategic areas within fuel breaks along the boundaries of a 360-acre parcel at the Cameron Park unit and a 10-acre parcel of the Pine Hill unit. Christy said the “fuel breaks were created during the last two years to enhance public and firefighter safety and protect valuable natural resources at the Pine Hill Preserve in the event of a wildland fire.”

He said “BLM’s management goal is to restore and/or mimic in a responsible manner the natural habitat dynamics at the Pine Hill Preserve.” The BLM has implemented successful alternatives to manage vegetation using different methods to suit the Cameron Park and Pine Hill communities and the Preserve needs. Pile burning previously cut vegetation will help to reduce the amount of fuels.

Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.