Yreka, Calif., March 16, 2026 — With spring around the corner, conditions have become favorable for prescribed underburning to begin on the Klamath National Forest.
Fire managers from the Salmon-Scott River Ranger District are gearing up to begin prescribed underburning on the East Fork Scott Project in the Hayden Ridge and Masterson Loop areas, about two miles north of the community of Callahan.
Burning is planned for two units, both within isolated parcels of National Forest System land surrounded by privately owned lands. The first unit is 77 acres on the west side of Hayden Ridge, and the second unit is 42 acres located west of Masterson Loop. Both units are in Ponderosa pine-dominated mixed conifer stands. The East Fork Scott Project aims to reduce fuel loading and improve forest health and wildfire resilience, while protecting homes in the area.
Burning could start as early as Tuesday, March 17. Ignitions could last multiple days, and smoke will be visible from Callahan, Highway 3, and the Gazelle-Callahan Road.
Reducing fuels through prescribed fire can decrease fire behavior if wildfire occurs. That reduction in fire behavior can, in turn, lessen the risk to communities, infrastructure, natural resources, and habitat. Additional benefits of prescribed fire include improvement of overall forest health and enhancement of wildlife habitat.
For more information on the East Fork Scott prescribed burn, contact Jennifer Erickson, Forest Fire Prevention Officer at 530-310-5690.
Monitor the Klamath National Forest’s Facebook site and https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/ for more information about the burn as it is implemented.
