Prescribed Burn at USFS Ranger District Office Today and Next Week

The U.S. Forest Service (USFS) has scheduled a prescribed burn to  occur at its Ranger District Office (see map) today, with the potential for continued burning next week.  This prescribed burn will use an Air Curtain Incinerator (ACI), which is a pollution-control device used to  burn wood by blowing high-velocity air over the fire in a box. This method is quicker and results in less  smoke than traditional prescribed burning.  

This goal of this burn is to test the ACI on a small scale before moving on to use the device for prescribed  burns in the future. USFS will be burning less than 1 acre’s worth of wood waste that was pre-cut and  dried. The waste being burned will contribute to a fuel-reduction project in the Los Padres National  Forest to improve defensible space and reduce wildfire risk in the area.  

Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District (APCD) staff have reviewed the Smoke Management  Plan and provided conditions to minimize smoke impacts. The burn will be conducted when the  meteorological conditions are highly favorable to direct smoke away from population centers. APCD  staff will be on site for the burn.  

Prescribed burns are planned and coordinated by 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