Tulelake National Wildlife Refuge Prescribed Fire ATV Burnover 2026

On May 4, 2026, personnel from the Tulelake National Wildlife Refuge implemented a 198-acre prescribed burn in a local agricultural area. During firing operations, the lead interior lighter encountered an unexpected obstacle while advancing south through dense tules adjacent to the cold black. The ATV was halted by a crescent-shaped berm, approximately four feet high and 60 feet long, composed of compacted tule resulting from wetland water drainage activities. The berm's height, curvature, and surrounding vegetation posed a significant hazard—preventing safe navigation over it.

While attempting to reposition the ATV, the operator immediately backed up approximately 15 feet into his recently lit strip fire to quickly navigate around the berm to the safety zone. While fire intensity near the ATV was low at the time, the operator understood that there was typically a 10-second lag between lighting the strip fire and flames reaching up to 20 feet tall in the densest tules. Recognizing imminent danger, the operator promptly exited the ATV and moved to the designated safety zone in the clean black, located roughly 15 feet east of the vehicle. While the operator remained unharmed, the ATV was destroyed.