Los Padres Forest Administrative Site Pile Burning Scheduled for November to December

 The Los Padres National Forest has tentatively scheduled prescribed  burns at various administrative sites on forest lands (Campgrounds, Trailheads, and Fire Stations) with a  burn window of November through December.

The goal of the burns is to reduce the risk of wildfire.  Prescribed, or planned, fires typically burn less intensely than wildfires. Prescribed burns can help  prevent the spread of wildfires and can reduce impacts to watersheds that can result in soil loss and  sedimentation. 

Approximately 1-10 acres (10-100 piles) of slash from felled dead trees and brush will be burned  daily. Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District (APCD) staff have reviewed the Smoke  Management Plan and provided conditions to minimize smoke impacts in Santa Barbara County.

The  burns will be conducted when the meteorological conditions are highly favorable to direct smoke away  from population centers. Ignitions will be conducted throughout the day and piles will be allowed to  burn through the evenings to allow for full consumption. All piles will remain in patrol status until no  smoke or heat is present. 

These prescribed burns are planned and coordinated by the Santa Barbara County APCD, San Luis  Obispo County APCD, San Joaquin Valley APCD, Ventura County APCD, and the California Air Resources  Board to minimize impacts on air quality on surrounding communities. The burns are dependent on  weather and air quality conditions that are favorable to smoke dispersion. If the conditions are not as  desired, the burns will be rescheduled.  

Due to changing winds and weather conditions, it is difficult to predict which areas of the county, if any,  may be most affected by smoke from the burn. If you smell smoke, take precautions and use common  sense to reduce any harmful health effects by limiting outdoor activities. When you can smell smoke or  when it is visible in your area, avoid strenuous outdoor activity and remain indoors as much as possible. 

These precautions are especially important to children, older adults, and those with heart and lung  conditions. Use caution when driving near prescribed burns due to reduced visibility. 

For more information regarding the county’s air quality, visit www.OurAir.org. 

To view a statewide prescribed burn map and other features, visit the Prescribed Fire Information Reporting System (PFIRS)  website: https://ssl.arb.ca.gov/pfirs/firm/firm.php