Pala Ranches Fuel Break
Summary
SCH Number
2026010979
Public Agency
Kern County
Document Title
Pala Ranches Fuel Break
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
1/29/2026
Document Description
The proposed fuel reduction project is intended to mitigate wildfire fuels adjacent to residential structures along Evans Road and Old State Road, thereby reducing risks to human life, property, and the surrounding environment. The project site is situated off Shirley Creek Road in Wofford Heights, California, between the intersecting streets of Gold Mill Avenue and Evans Road, on the southern boundary of the Pala Ranches community. The fuel break shall commence at the western portion of the community and extend along an existing fire access road downslope for approximately two miles, terminating at its connection with Old State Road. Crews will use a wide range of manual/mechanical treatments to accomplish our fuel reduction goals. These will range from hand thinning, mowing, chipping, piling, pile burning, and mastication. Project activities shall include the removal of vegetative fuels along the fire access road to a width of approximately 25 feet on each side. A larger fuel reduction effort will take place at the west end of the project. Crews will use the above treatments to create a shaded fuel break immediately adjacent to the community of Pala Ranches. The entirety of the project area is classified within High and Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones as designated by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CalFIRE) and is situated on privately owned land bordered on all sides by federally administered property.
Contact Information
Name
Andrew Kennison
Agency Name
Kern County Fire Department
Job Title
Deputy Chief Wildland Operations
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Location
Counties
Kern
Regions
Unincorporated
Township
25S
Range
32E
Section
36
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Section 15301, (Class 1(C)) Existing Facilities, Class 4; California Code of Regulations, title 14, section 15304
Reasons for Exemption
This project fits under sections of California Environmental Quality Act guidelines: Section 15301 Class 1 and section 15304 Class 4. The area is under immediate threat from wildfire and due to the proximity to homes and fire history is a prime candidate for resource management/fuels reduction work. The Class 1 exemption is in place to work off the existing fire road and the Class 4 exemption due to "minor public or private alterations in the condition of the land, water, and/or vegetation which do not involve the removal of healthy, mature, scenic trees except for forestry and agricultural purposes. Section 15061(b) (3) states "The activity is covered by the general rule that CEQA applies only to projects, which have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment. Where it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment, the activity is not subject to CEQA." Field review by Kern County Fire Department staff confirmed that no exceptions apply that would preclude the use of a notice of exemption for this project. The Department has concluded that no significant environmental impact would occur to aesthetics, agriculture and forestland/timberland, air quality, biological resources, cultural resources, energy, geology and soils, greenhouse gas emissions, hazards and hazardous materials, hydrology and water quality, land use planning, mineral resources, noise, populations and housing, public services, recreation, transportation/ traffic, utilities and service systems, or to wildlife.
County Clerk
Kern
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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