Chairwoman Ogren Attends McBride Prescribed Burn

Siskiyou County Board Chairwoman Ogren recently joined personnel from the Shasta-Trinity National Forest, Klamath National Forest, and CAL FIRE - Siskiyou Unit to observe the implementation of a prescribed burn operation within the McBride Vegetation Project near Mount Shasta. The successful completion of ignitions treated approximately 171 acres of hazardous vegetation, contributing to long-term forest health and community wildfire resilience.

Now that the prescribed fire phase is complete, residents and visitors can expect to see several visible outcomes of this critical fuels reduction effort:

• Forest Floor and Vegetation Changes: Visitors will notice charred brush such as manzanita, a sign that the operation successfully removed excess vegetation and returned nutrients to the soil—an essential component of a healthy forest ecosystem.
• Tree Canopy Impact: Some tree branches may display a layer of light brown needles, which is a normal result of heat exposure during the burn. These needles will naturally shed over time, leaving the trees healthier and more resilient.
• Improved Fire Behavior Outcomes: The removal of low-hanging branches will help prevent future ground fires from climbing into the tree canopy, resulting in less severe wildfire behavior and improved safety for surrounding communities.
• Ongoing Fire Crew Presence: Fire personnel remain in the area conducting patrol and mop-up operations to monitor hot spots and ensure the fire does not spread beyond the treated area. Smoke may continue to be visible for several days as residual vegetation smolders.
• Trail Access: Public access to affected portions of the Gateway Trails will be delayed as forest and fire managers wait for conditions to stabilize. Unaffected areas of the trail network remain open and accessible.

Siskiyou County extends its appreciation to the Shasta-Trinity National Forest, Klamath National Forest, CAL FIRE, and all personnel involved for their coordination and dedication to improving forest conditions and protecting our communities from future wildfire threats.