Pile Burning -Donner Summit

Pile burning is a key tool used by the Truckee River Prescribed Burn Association (PBA) to reduce hazardous fuels in the Donner Summit area. After thinning projects or defensible space work, excess branches and woody debris are stacked into piles and burned under controlled winter or early spring conditions when snow is on the ground. This allows for precise, low-risk ignition with minimal chance of fire spread.

In the high-elevation forests around Donner Summit, pile burning is especially effective for managing heavy fuel loads created by decades of fire suppression and recent forest treatments. By removing concentrated fuels, these burns help reduce the intensity of future wildfires and protect nearby communities, infrastructure, and recreation areas.

Pile burning also supports ongoing forest restoration efforts by preparing sites for future prescribed fire and improving overall forest structure. Through coordinated efforts, the PBA is helping bring safe, intentional fire back to the landscape—one pile at a time.