Prescribed Burn Scheduled at Righetti Ranch

Source: Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District

A permitted range improvement burn has been planned in conjunction with the Santa Barbara County Fire Department at the Righetti Ranch south of Orcutt, between Highways 101 and 135, during the burn window of October 15, 2019 – January 1, 2020. The goal of this prescribed burn is to improve rangeland and 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.

This prescribed burn is a follow-up to burn to a successful 300-acre burn that occurred at the Righetti Ranch in November 2018 and will complete 380-acre range improvement project.  Approximately 80 acres of sage scrub and chaparral will be burned over a one-day period. The burn will begin at 9 a.m. and conclude at 6 p.m. on a permissive burn day. No agricultural or residential burning will occur during the prescribed burn. 

Once the optimal burn day has been selected within the burn window, additional public notification will be provided the day before the burn begins. 

Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District (APCD) staff have reviewed the Smoke Management Plans for these burns 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.

These prescribed burns are planned in cooperation with private land owners and are coordinated by the Santa Barbara County Fire Department, Santa Barbara County APCD, San Luis Obispo County APCD, San Joaquin Valley APCD, Ventura County APCD, and California Air Resources Board to minimize air quality impacts on surrounding communities. The burns depend 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 burns. 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. If you are sensitive to smoke, consider temporarily relocating and closing all doors and windows on the day of the burn. Symptoms of smoke exposure can include coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, chest tightness or pain, nausea, and unusual fatigue or lightheadedness.  

Please use caution while driving near prescribed fire operations.