Smoke Notice: Berry Creek - Rockerfeller Rd. Mechanical Pile Burn Project
Burn Status
Burn scheduled - conditions permitting
Ignitions are scheduled to begin Friday, November 13 and continue through the weekend. Burning will only take place if favorable conditions are present.
Last updated:
Conditions permitting, a 76-acre mechanical pile burn in Berry Creek is scheduled to begin on Friday, November 13 and continue through the weekend. Residents in Berry Creek should anticipate visible smoke.
To reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire, protect homes, and restore healthy fire ecology, the Butte County Fire Safe Council (BCFSC), along with our partners at the USDA Forest Service (USFS), Pioneer Union Elementary School District, and the Berry Creek Volunteer Fire Company, plans a 76-acre mechanical pile burn in the Rockerfeller Rd. area of Berry Creek beginning Friday, November 13, if conditions allow. Burning will be conducted by contractors Hard Rock and Iron Canyon.
Burn at a Glance
- Ignitions: Beginning Friday, November 13 and continuing through the weekend
- Location: Rockerfeller Rd. area, Berry Creek
- Size: 76 acres of forest understory piles
- Partners: USDA Forest Service (USFS), Pioneer Union Elementary School District, and Berry Creek Volunteer Fire Company
- Contractors: Hard Rock and Iron Canyon (conducting the burn)
- Smoke: Visible from Berry Creek. Smoke may be visible each day while burning continues through the weekend.
What to Expect from Smoke
- Where smoke will go: Smoke will be visible from Berry Creek. Light, short-lived smoke is likely along Rockerfeller Rd., Raccoon Rd., Timber Springs Rd., and Justamere Ln.
- How we limit smoke: Firefighters will conduct a small test burn before the operation to determine likely smoke conditions. Only then will they begin burning. BCFSC and our partners work closely with the Butte County Air Quality Management District (BCAQMD) to minimize smoke impacts.
- Overnight: Light smoke may settle in low areas and drainages overnight and in the early morning. This is expected and should lift by mid-morning.
- Lingering smoke: Logs and stumps inside the unit may smolder lightly for several days, and a dedicated fire crew will be onsite and diligently monitoring at all times.
Go/No-Go and Day-of Updates
BCAQMD updates burn status every morning at 8:45 a.m. At approximately 9:30 a.m., once the operation is confirmed to fall within burn day allowances, the decision will be made to start. Start times may vary due to local weather conditions.
On the day of the burn, we will post updates on Facebook and Instagram (@buttefiresafe), or you can call our office at (530) 877-0984.
If You're Sensitive to Smoke
If you're sensitive to smoke (asthma, COPD, heart conditions, older adults, children, pregnancy): keep windows closed, run an air purifier or set your HVAC to recirculate, and limit outdoor activity while smoke is present. Check live air quality at fire.airnow.gov.
Free HEPA air purifiers may be available through BCAQMD's Breathe Safe Butte program. Call us before the burn if you need help.
Download the full Press Release (PDF)
Project Map
Funding for this project was provided by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection's Forest Health Program, as part of California Climate Investments.
Questions or Smoke Concerns
Before the day of the burn, please call our office at (530) 877-0984. Our staff will be happy to help determine whether smoke may affect you and how to address any concerns. Please don't call 911 for smoke from this burn.
Why This Burn Matters
What this unit protects: This project is designed to support community safety in Berry Creek by reducing hazardous fuels along Rockerfeller Rd.
Past work: Forest understory material in this unit was mechanically treated and piled. This burn removes those piles to reduce hazardous fuels and restore healthy fire ecology.
Funding and Approvals
This project is funded by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) as part of the California Climate Investments program under the direction of the Butte County Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) and the Butte County Fire Plan. Permits and approvals are in place with CAL FIRE and BCAQMD, and crews will be using an approved burn plan.
Additional beneficial fire projects may take place as conditions allow. We share project updates on our social media channels and appreciate your help spreading the word to keep our community informed.
Thank you for supporting beneficial fire as we work toward safer, healthier landscapes for our communities.