The Plumas County Fire Safe Council reports that prescribed burning was safely completed on the American Valley Community Services District Hazardous Fuels Reduction Project in Boyles Ravine near Quincy. This project demonstrates the power of collaboration, strategic planning and community engagement in wildfire mitigation, says the council: “Through meticulous coordination, forward-thinking leadership and dedicated fieldwork, this initiative has strengthened Quincy’s wildfire preparedness while fostering a proactive fire management culture.”
The AVCSD project, formerly called the Quincy Watershed Improvement Project, represents a significant step toward enhancing wildfire resilience and forest health in Quincy’s wildland-urban interface, says PCFSC. Located in Boyles Ravine south of downtown Quincy, the 169.2-acre project involved thinning, piling and burning small-diameter trees to improve tree spacing, reduce hazardous fuels and strengthen forest structure. “These efforts promote mature tree growth by reducing competition while creating a more manageable fire landscape,” said PCFSC.
Many organizations have worked to make this project a reality. Recognizing the heavy fuel loading near downtown Quincy residences, Plumas Audubon Society initiated a collaborative effort with the AVCSD and the Plumas National Forest. Plumas Audubon secured funding from the Sierra Nevada Conservancy to plan and ensure environmental compliance. Once the project was shovel-ready, PCFSC obtained additional funding from the Sierra Nevada Conservancy for implementation. Summit Forestry was contracted to complete the thinning and piling work, stacking approximately 6,000 piles in three weeks. Each pile was built to optimize ignition, ensure complete consumption and minimize air quality impacts, said PCFSC.
The final phase — the prescribed fire pile burn — was led by Terra Fuego Resource Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to reintroducing beneficial fire to the landscape. After careful planning and selection of an optimal weather window, three days of pile burning took place, concluding on March 4. While smoke was present in Quincy during and after ignition, proactive forecasting and community outreach helped minimize impacts, said PCFSC.
The council pointed out that community involvement was a cornerstone of the project. Bill Jacks, burn boss and executive director of Terra Fuego, conducted a public meeting to educate residents on prescribed fire’s benefits. He also hosts “The Fire Frequency,” a fire ecology radio program on KQNY, informing the public about prescribed burns and their ecological importance.
Door-to-door outreach was conducted twice — once in October and again on March 1 — engaging over 120 households. A dedicated team of partners contributed during the burn days, including Plumas Underburn Cooperative volunteers who tended piles near homes adjacent to the community services district property. Additional support came from organizations such as PCFSC, American Valley Community Services District, Northern Sierra Air Quality Management District, Quincy Volunteer Fire Department, Firestorm Wildland Fire Suppression, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection Lassen-Modoc Unit, Feather River Resource Conservation District, Feather River College and others.
Terra Fuego’s mission is to replace catastrophic wildfires with frequent prescribed fires, prioritizing community protection while incorporating traditional Indigenous burning practices. Moving forward, PCFSC and its partners say they remain committed to expanding prescribed fire efforts to build safer, more resilient landscapes across the region.
Information provided by Plumas County Fire Safe Council
