Mountain Rim Fire Safe Council Regional Fire Safe Project – Wrightwood, Mt. Baldy, and Lytle Creek
Summary
SCH Number
2025120425
Public Agency
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
(CAL FIRE)
Document Title
Mountain Rim Fire Safe Council Regional Fire Safe Project – Wrightwood, Mt. Baldy, and Lytle Creek
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
12/10/2025
Document Description
The intent of this project is to assist residents of the Wrightwood, Lytle Creek, and Mt. Baldy communities in creating defensible space and removing fire hazards in compliance with defensible space/hazard abatement regulations. The proposed project would include the removal of vegetation, hazardous trees, debris, and other materials within 100 ft. of structures. Removal of vegetation will occur manually; cut material will be left in place, piled for firewood, chipped and spread back on site, and/or hauled away. Ground vegetation to be removed will primarily consist of shrubs, leaves, pine needles, weeds, and downed branches. Trees may be pruned to allow for the passage of emergency response vehicles and as necessary to maintain defensible space standards (e.g., recommended distance from chimneys/stovepipes or other trees). Dead, dying, diseased, and hazardous live trees will be removed. All trees will be felled in the least ground-disturbing manner feasible. Project implementation is expected to begin immediately. The number of parcels completed within the project area will be determined based on funding availability. Work may be done during nesting bird season if nesting surveys are performed prior to commencement of operations, as described below. Equipment necessary for project implementation includes chainsaws, hand tools (shovels, Mcleods, pulaskis, etc.), and chippers. Heavy equipment (i.e., chipper) and vehicles will use existing improved and/or disturbed areas such as roads, driveways, and pullouts. If tree logs need to be removed from the project site, then the logs will be cut into carry-able size lengths and removed by hand to minimize ground disturbance. Maintenance will occur as necessary to maintain the standards listed above and may occur as frequently as an annual basis. Maintenance needs will be determined in coordination with CAL FIRE.
Contact Information
Name
David Haas
Agency Name
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE)
Job Title
Forester II
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Email
Location
Cities
Wrightwood, Mt. Baldy, and Lytle Creek
Counties
San Bernardino
Regions
Southern California
Other Location Info
San Gabriel Mountains: Lytle Creek - Township: T02N Range: R06W Sections: 15,22
Mount Baldy - Township: T02N Range: R07W Sections: 19,25,30
Wrightwood - Township: T03N Range: R07W Sections: 6,7,8,9,10,15,16,17,18,21
Township: T03N Range: R08W Sections: 1,12
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Class 4 §15304 Minor Alterations to Land
Reasons for Exemption
This project meets the requirements of Class 4 Categorical Exemption (Minor Alterations to Land), 14 CCR §15304. The project primarily consists of the removal of vegetation and hazardous trees necessary to meet defensible space and hazard abatement requirements and is minor in scope and limited to within 100 ft. of structures. No exceptions apply which would preclude the use of a “Notice of Exemption” for this project. It has been concluded that no significant adverse environmental impacts would occur to aesthetics, agriculture and forest resources, air quality, biological resources, cultural resources, energy, geology and soils, greenhouse gas emissions, hazards and hazardous materials, hydrology and water quality, land use and planning, mineral resources, noise, populations and housing, public services, recreation, transportation and traffic, utilities and service systems, or wildfire. Documentation of the environmental review completed by the CAL FIRE staff is kept on file at CAL FIRE’s San Bernardino Unit Headquarters in San Bernardino, CA.
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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