Started: 3:34 p.m. July 21

Initial location: Tuolumne County, Calif.

Fire type: Prescribed

Fire name: Variable Thinning

A new prescribed burn, called Variable Thinning, was initiated today at 3:34 p.m. in in Tuolumne County, California.

The prescribed fire has been burning on federal land managed by the United States Forest Service.

At present, specifics regarding the extent of land burned and the size of the crew conducting the prescribed fire are unavailable.

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