On Friday, October 26, crews will start burning piles of tree limbs and brush in Sun Valley Regional Park, adjacent to Esther Bennett Elementary School. This planned burning is part of a 30 acre hazardous fuels reduction project. Burning is expected through Sunday, October 28 and will produce smoke that is visible throughout the North Valleys.
Al Rogers, Acting Division Director for the Washoe County Regional Parks and Open Space notes, “The planned burn at Sun Valley Regional Park will reduce excess fuel and support wildfire protection efforts in the area.”
Debris or “slash” piles were created at the park as a result of a hazardous fuels reduction and defensible space project earlier this year intended to help minimize the risk of wildland fires. The burning piles are expected to produce smoke that may be visible throughout the area between Friday, October 26 and Sunday, October 28.
“People that are smoke sensitive are advised to please stay inside and close their windows and doors as much as possible until the smoke dissipates,” states Truckee Meadows Fire Protection Chief, Charles A. Moore.
As this event is a planned burn, citizens are requested not to call 911 to report the smoke in Sun Valley Regional Park Friday through Sunday. The project’s safety plan calls for cancellation of the controlled burning if weather conditions warrant, such as with significant wind activity or precipitation. Staff will be available 24 hours a day on site to monitor and control the burn.
The project is a cooperative effort between North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District, Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District, Washoe County Parks Department and Nevada Division of Forestry.
