Tamarack pile burning in Markleeville begins Tuesday

While backyard burning is officially over in the East Fork Fire Protection District, Alpine County will be seeing pile burning of woody debris from the Tamarack Fire over the coming month.

Burning will begin as early as Tuesday.

Residents will notice light smoke in the area, which will likely linger into the night and early morning as piles are allowed to burn completely. Fire and contract personnel will be in the area monitoring the piles and smoke accumulation.

“Burning will continue around the Markleeville area until the piles are completed or the weather precludes burning,” said Public Information Officer JT Chevallier. “Signs will be posted around the community letting residents know operations are underway. Your patience and cooperation with these activities is appreciated.”

The piles were created across the burn area over the summer in preparation for the burning this winter when cooler and wetter weather makes it safer.

“Pile burning is one of the last steps before or during seeding operations to help reduce the amount of dead material in the forest and provide nutrients for regeneration,” Chevallier said. “Burning will occur on private lands which have recently received treatments. Burning will also occur on Forest Service lands later in the season.”

Officials are asking people to avoid the areas for both their and crews’ safety.

“During the next few weeks, burning operations will commence around the Markleevillage and Markleeville communities,” Chevallier said. “These operations will be conducted to maximize safety and minimize smoke impacts to the community.”

Tahoe Douglas Fire Protection District’s Zephyr Crew in concert with the Eastern Alpine Fire Department and NV Environmental are conducting the burns under a plan developed with the Forest Service and the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

“Smoke management is an important consideration of the burning activities,” Chevallier said. “Every effort will be made to minimize the impacts of smoke on the community. The necessary permits have been obtained from the Great Basin Air Quality Board and a smoke management plan developed to address potential smoke impacts.”

Contact Alpine County Wildfire Project Coordinator Clint Celio at ccelio@alpinecountyca.gov or (775)-720-6534 or check out our Pile Burning Operations webpage on the Alpine County website.