[UPDATE: Postponed Until Sunday] Announcement: Prescribed Fire Operations in Petrolia area now planned for Friday, March 27th

[Prescribed burn image created with the assistance of Chat GPT]

The Mattole Restoration Council announces an upcoming prescribed burn on the south side of Prosper Ridge on Friday, March 27. The property is about 4.8 miles SW of downtown Petrolia. Approximately 8 acres will be burned in the understory of a primarily Douglas-fir forest with many resources. Engines are coming from Petrolia Volunteer Fire Department, Honeydew Volunteer Fire Company, Mid Klamath Watershed Council, and Big Chico Creek Ecological Reserve plus CAL FIRE! Other volunteers are assisting making this burn a heavily attended SAFE burn. In addition, MRC saw crews have been out for a week prepping the lines, the stumps and sensitive trees or snags to ensure containment. The weather forecast is mild and there may be rain later next week.

Ignitions will start around 11am on one of two ~4 acres units. Petrolians might see some smoke up on the ridge. Patrol resources will be present at scene until no smoke is visible for 48 hours and will continue to monitor through the following days. A Sign will be visible at the intersection of Lighthouse Road and Prosper Ridge Rd.

Feel free to contact [email protected] for more information.

Project Name: Free Broadcast Burn, Spring 2026

Project Sponsor: United States Forest Service under the Community Wildfire Defense Grant program. This sponsor is an equal opportunity employer.

Qualified Burn Boss: Henri Holbrook

Descriptive location: Prosper Ridge units south of Prosper Ridge Road Type of burn: Broadcast

Total Acreage: ~8 acres

Planned Ignition: March 27, 2026 *** DEPENDENT on Weather, we have the Resources unless a wildfire breaks out nearby.

Smoke Production: Smoke production might be visible in the larger Petrolia area. Patrols will monitor until fire is out.

Again, DO NOT REPORT this Good Fire

Estimated Direction of Smoke Travel: South.

UPDATE: “Announcement: Prescribed Fire Operations in Petrolia area have been POSTPONED until
Sunday, March 29th. Do not Report this Good Fire!!!”