The U.S. Forest Service (USFS) recently directed California staff to halt prescribed burns “for the foreseeable future” to preserve resources for wildfire response, according to local media outlet KQED.
A spokesperson explained that many California crews are deployed to other states, making it unsafe to conduct prescribed burns locally. On Oct. 16, USFS Region 5, which covers California and Hawaii, announced plans for fall prescribed burning on federal lands.
However, in an Oct. 22 letter, Deputy Regional Forester Kara Chadwick noted the nationwide demand for resources and acknowledged this pause would impact this year’s prescribed burn goals.
