News Release

For Release:  Jan. 29, 2007          
Contact: Larry Ames (707) 468-4000 or Jeff Fontana (530) 252-5332
CA-N-07-27

Prescribed Fire Planned for Cow Mountain; Temporary Closure Set

The U. S. Bureau of Land Management, in cooperation with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, plans to conduct a prescribed fire on South Cow Mountain between Ukiah and Lakeport on Wednesday and Thursday, Jan. 31 and Feb. 1.
 
For public safety, the Cow Mountain Off-Highway Vehicle area will be closed from Tuesday, Jan. 30, through Friday, Feb. 2.  BLM officials said the closure could be continued through the weekend if residual fire remains in the burn area.
 
Those who plan to visit the recreation area over the weekend of Feb. 3-4 should call the BLM Ukiah Field Office, (707) 468-4000, to verify whether the area is open.
 
BLM officials said alternate destinations for off-highway vehicle use can be found on the Mendocino National Forest’s Upper Lake Ranger District.
 
“A primary goal of this burn is to reduce the wildfire threat to homes in the wildland-urban interface area of Lake County,” said Rich Burns, manager of the BLM’s Ukiah Field Office.
 
Jim Dawson, a BLM natural resource specialist, said the burn is also part of an ongoing project to find the best ways to reduce dead fuel buildups with minimal air quality impacts.
 
The fire will be ignited only if weather conditions allow for safe and successful burning.  The burn will be cancelled in adverse weather conditions such as high winds or low humidity.
 
For more information, contact the BLM Ukiah Field Office. 

-BLM-

Ukiah Field Office     2550 North State St.     Ukiah, CA 95482