Forest Service News Release

Public Information Officer: Kirstie Butler

[email protected]

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

Pile Burning in Crowley Lake and Bishop Creek

Bishop, California, January 5, 2026— Recent winter storms have provided favorable conditions for the Inyo National Forest to conduct pile burning in the Crowley Lake area and Bishop Creek. Snow has made ideal conditions to safely burn the piles that are part of a hazardous fuels reduction project.

Local fire and fuels crews will burn approximately 2 acres of piles starting tomorrow, January 6, in the Crowley Lake area. Beginning January 7, piles will be burned in the Bishop Creek area. (see maps 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 the area.

Fire managers work with the Great Basin Unified Air Pollution Control District and the National Weather Service to minimize smoke impacts to local communities. Smoke from these pile burns will be visible from the communities of Crowley Lake, Aspen Springs, and Aspendell. Smoke will also be visible from Highway 395, and Highway 168 West.