Forest Service News Release

Public Information Officer: Kirstie Butler

[email protected]

760-647-3004
www.fs.usda.gov/inyo
Facebook @InyoNF

Pile Burning in Reds Meadow Valley and June Lake

Favorable weather conditions are in place for hazardous fuels reduction work

Bishop, Calif., December 2, 2025— Inyo National Forest will be conducting pile burning starting tomorrow in the Reds Meadow Valley. The area has received snow, making ideal conditions to safely burn the piles that are part of a project to reduce hazardous fuels adjacent to the Mammoth Lakes community.

Local fire and fuels crews will burn approximately 150 acres of piles, in units FR-1 and FR-2 for the remainer of the week and as weather conditions allow. (see map for unit locations) Slash piles include limbed branches, cut logs, and other vegetation debris that have been removed to reduce surface and “ladder fuels” and assembled into piles. This reduces the speed and intensity of fire behavior, and resulting severity of the fire, should a wildfire happen in that area.

Smoke impacts are minimized as much as possible in coordination with the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District and National Weather Service meteorologists to ensure desired weather patterns and smoke dispersal are in place in order to minimize impacts to communities, highways, and adjacent residences. Residents of Mammoth Lakes may experience smoke during the prescribed burn. For more detailed information about air quality, go to www.fire.airnow.gov online or download the app. Smoke may also be seen from Highway 395 and Mammoth Mountain.

Crews will also be burning 5 piles in June Lake tomorrow. The piles are located near the bottom of the June Mountain Chair 1 ski lift. There is some snow surrounding the piles, but fire crews will also be putting in hose line around the piles to ensure they burn safely. The project should be completed by the end of the day. Smoke will be visible from Highway 158 and from the community of June Lake.