Prescribed Burn Planned Near Nevada City

Terra Fuego Resource Foundation to conduct 150-acre controlled burn over 3 days

Mar. 29, 2026 at 3:19pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The Terra Fuego Resource Foundation, in partnership with American Rivers, is planning to conduct a prescribed burn of approximately 150 acres near Nevada City, California starting on March 29, 2026. The burn is part of the larger 570-acre Hoyt-Purdon Fuel Reduction and Prescribed Fire Project aimed at improving forest resiliency and reducing wildfire risk in the South Yuba River watershed.

Why it matters

Prescribed burns are an important tool for forest management and wildfire prevention, but they can also cause temporary smoke impacts on nearby communities. This project aims to balance the need for fuel reduction with minimizing disruptions to local residents.

The details

The prescribed burn will take place over approximately 3 days, with operations running from 9am to 8pm daily. Resources will include 15 firefighter crew, 2 engines, 2 skid steer fire apparatus, and 1 fire tender. Smoke will be visible from the South Yuba River Canyon and adjacent rural roads, with the greatest impacts anticipated during evening, nighttime, and morning hours. Efforts will be made to monitor and reduce smoke impacts to nearby communities.

  • The prescribed burn activities are scheduled to begin on March 29, 2026.
  • The burn is expected to last approximately 3 days, potentially non-continually, depending on weather conditions.

The players

Terra Fuego Resource Foundation

A control burn expert organization partnering with American Rivers on the Hoyt-Purdon Fuel Reduction and Prescribed Fire Project.

American Rivers

A non-profit organization focused on river conservation, which is funding and overseeing the 570-acre fuel reduction and prescribed fire project.

Sierra Nevada Conservancy

The state agency providing funding for the Hoyt-Purdon Fuel Reduction and Prescribed Fire Project.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What’s next

After the prescribed burn, there will be a period of post-burn mop-up and monitoring to ensure all fuels are extinguished.

The takeaway

This prescribed burn is an important step in improving the long-term resilience of the forests and communities around Nevada City to catastrophic wildfires, though it will come with temporary smoke impacts that will be carefully managed.