West Point, CA — Do not be alarmed if you see smoke today near the Calaveras County community of West Point.
The Bureau of Land Management is hoping to ignite about 20 piles of brush and tree limbs spread out along 40 acres of public lands in the Lily Gap project area. Smoke could be visible in West Point, Barton, Glencoe, Pioneer, Vocano and Wilseyville.
The Lily Gap Project started in 2011 on BLM managed lands, and it includes pile burning, chipping, logging and mastication of hazard trees. The work is taking place over 400 acres. A Calaveras County plant uses the salvaged wood chips to make particleboard, and the timber is hauled to nearby mills. The project changes the makeup of the forest, so in the event of a wildfire, flames are not expected to burn as high or hot.
Written by BJ Hansen.
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