Started: 11:44 a.m. Jan. 7

Initial location: Merced County, Calif.

Fire type: Prescribed

Fire name: Lur Merced Piles

A new prescribed burn, named Lur Merced Piles, was initiated today at 11:44 a.m. in Merced County, California.

The prescribed fire has been burning on federal land managed by the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Currently, no information is available regarding the land area burned or the size of the crew executing the prescribed fire.

Prescribed fire (prescribed burn) is a wildfire prevention method that involves burning an area of land in a controlled manner to minimize the risk of catastrophic wildfires.

Source: National Interagency Fire Center