Prescribed Pile Burns in Santa Barbara’s South County This Week

The Santa Barbara County Fire Department plans to conduct prescribed fire pile burns in the San Antonio Creek area this week (see map), as conditions allow. 

Approximately 20 piles of cut vegetation (approximately four combined acres) will be burned as part of  the San Antonio Creek pile burns. Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District (APCD) staff review  the Smoke Management Plan and provide conditions to minimize smoke impacts in Santa Barbara  County. Burning will occur when the meteorological conditions are highly favorable to direct smoke  away from population centers. 

Prescribed burns are planned and 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 the California Air Resources Board to minimize impacts on air quality on surrounding communities.  Prescribed fire burns are dependent on weather and air quality conditions that are favorable to smoke  dispersion. If the conditions are not as desired, the burn 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. 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.  

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