Information provided by CalFire. Lea este artículo en español aquí.
Conditions and weather permitting, CAL FIRE plans to conduct multiple broadcast burns through the San Benito-Monterey Unit during December 3, 2024 to December 13,2024.
The planned burns will range from 3 acres to 600 acres each day. Control burns will take place in the [Paicines] Valley, Antelope Valley, McPhails Peak and Fremont Peak areas. The purpose of the project is to reintroduce fire into the ecosystem, thereby reducing hazardous fire fuels by removing brush and downed woody debris, enhancing the fire safety. Prescribed fires are vital fuels management tool used by land managers to help protect communities by removing fuels that can fees unwanted wildland fires.
Fall brings cooler temperatures and precipitation, which are ideal for conducting prescribed fire operations. Each operation follows a specialized burn plan, which considers temperature, humidity, wind, moisture of the vegetation, and conditions for dispersal of smoke. All this information is used to decide when and where to burn.
This prescribed fire project was planned as part of broader strategic efforts to protect the local community and nearby natural resources. These plans are informed by community and local stakeholder input and serve as a collaborative effort with a range of cooperators throughout the course of the project. This project adds to significant work underway throughout the state and brings California one step closer towards meeting or exceeding state fuels reduction goals directed by the California Fire Plan and the California Wildfire and Forest Resilience Action Plan.
Each operation follows a specialized burn plan, which considers temperature, humidity, wind, moisture of the vegetation, and conditions for dispersal of smoke. All this information is used to decide when and where to burn.
Smoke from prescribed fire operations is normal and may continue for several days after an ignition depending on the project size, conditions, and weather. Prescribed fire smoke is generally less intense and of much shorter duration than smoke produced by wildland fires.
Smoke from this control burn will be visible from the Salinas Valley, Monterey and San Benito Counties, as well as some areas of Santa Cruz County. Weather conditions will be monitored, and burn may be postponed if burning conditions are found to be unfavorable. CAL FIRE is in close consultation with the National Weather Service’s Monterey Office and Monterey Bay Air Resources District to ensure that the burn takes place in appropriate weather conditions; the project may be postponed if conditions are not conducive to a safe burn.
To track the progress being made, both in your community and throughout California, please visit the CAL FIRE fuels reduction dashboard at https://www.fire.ca.gov/what-we-do/natural-resource-management/fuels-reduction and help share important preventing and preparedness information with your neighbors at readyforwildfire.org
To be added to the Prescribed Fire Notification list, send a request to BEU.ResourceManagement@fire.ca.gov or scan the QR code.
For additional information on preparing for and preventing wildfires, visit www.ReadyForWildfire.org.
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