This past month, we had the opportunity to facilitate a broadcast burn in the Oroville Foothills near Highway 162 and Forbestown Road. This carefully planned burn was designed to reduce hazardous overgrowth, protect native plant communities, and increase the overall resilience of the landscape against catastrophic wildfires.
The project area sits less than three miles from the scars of the 2020 North Complex Fire and the 2017 Wall Fire, events that burned hundreds of homes, caused tragic loss of life, and left lasting environmental damage in Berry Creek, Feather Falls, East Oroville Foothills, and the Loafer Creek Recreation Area. Prescribed fire is a proven tool for creating safer landscapes and restoring ecological balance, helping both communities and ecosystems thrive.
The burn encompassed 175 acres of overgrown blue oak and gray pine forest. With favorable weather conditions for smoke management, a dedicated fire crew oversaw the project, carefully monitoring fire behavior to ensure safety and effectiveness.
This project was managed by the Butte County Fire Safe Council (BCFSC) and carried out by the Terra Fuego Resource Foundation, made possible through funding from CAL FIRE’s WUI Wide Forest Health Program, as part of the California Climate Investments Program.
Looking ahead, the next phase will focus on restoring native grasses and forbs. Working with a local botanist, this reseeding effort will improve soil health, increase pollinator habitat, and provide forage for wildlife, continuing the cycle of ecosystem renewal sparked by the burn.
Through these efforts, we aim to steward the land thoughtfully, balancing fire management with ecological restoration, and creating a landscape that is safer, healthier, and more resilient for future generations.
