California State Parks and CAL FIRE to Conduct Prescribed Burn at Lake Perris State Recreation Area on May 13 or 14
Contact:
Teresa Pope
Lake Perris Sector Office
951-940-5600
PERRIS – California State Parks and CAL FIRE will perform a prescribed burn at Lake Perris State Recreation Area (SRA) on May 13 or 14. Burn dates will depend on wildfire activity, resource availability, weather conditions, predicted smoke movement and fuel moisture. The public is advised to use extreme caution while driving near prescribed fire operations due to fire personnel and equipment in the area.
The burn is part of a wildlife habitat enhancement program. It is aimed at restoring native grass and habitats for protected species, including the Stephen’s kangaroo rat and burrowing owl. This project will also provide valuable training opportunities for firefighters. Visitors should expect localized park closures, including trails and roads, during the prescribed burn. For a current list of all park closures, visit parks.ca.gov/Incidents.
Below is more information on the planned prescribed burns:
- The burn operation will not impact visitor use at the SRA except in the immediate area. The park, lake and campgrounds will remain open. Sections of the SRA bike path and horse trails will be temporarily closed.
- On the day of the burn, smoke may be visible near the burn area from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and should not be a cause for alarm. Do not call 9-1-1 to report fire activity or smoke in the area.
People traveling near the burn areas will see smoke on the day of the burn. Prescribed burns produce significantly less smoke than a wildfire. In the event the public smells smoke, they are urged to take precautions and use common sense to reduce any harmful health effects by limiting outdoor activities in the area. These precautions are especially important for children, older adults and people with respiratory and heart conditions.
The Lake Perris burn is part of State Parks’ Wildfire and Forest Resilience program to transition from catastrophic to beneficial fire on state-owned lands. Beneficial fire promotes site-specific ecological benefits and reduces wildfire risk to park users and nearby communities. State Parks uses prescribed fire on a rotational basis as a healthy component of the ecosystem.
The latest information on the Lake Perris prescribed burn can be found on the SRA’s webpage and on its Facebook and Instagram pages.
- Photos and video from a previous prescribed burn at Salt Point State Park
- Video: California State Parks’ Prescribed Fire Training Exchange
Prescribed burn operations at Lake Perris SRA from 2013. Photo from California State Parks.
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California State Parks provides for the health, inspiration and education of the people of California by helping to preserve the state’s extraordinary biological diversity, protecting its most valued natural and cultural resources, and creating opportunities for high quality outdoor recreation.