Two-Day Prescribed Burn Scheduled For Los Padres National Forest’s Camino Cielo Ridge Area

As part of wildfire prevention efforts in Santa Barbara County, a two-day prescribed burn is scheduled for the Camino Cielo Ridge area near Painted Cave Road and Highway 154. This area is a forested backcountry region located above Santa Barbara near Painted Cave Road and Highway 154.

The controlled burn is underway from today, April 27 to April 29, 2026, according to the U.S. Forest Service for the Los Padres National Forest. It will target some 10.5 acres near the Haney East burn area.

According to officials, the burn sites will be staffed 24 hours a day as long as heat or smoke remains present.

People in surrounding communities are likely to notice visible smoke during the prescribed burn.

What Is The Purpose Of The Burn?

The two-day prescribed burn is part of the Santa Barbara Community Defense Zone initiative to reduce hazardous vegetation and lower wildfire risk. While prescribed burn is performed under controlled conditions, it actually burns at lower intensity than wildfires. This helps remove built-up fuels such as dry brush and grass.

According to Santa Barbara county’s Air Pollution Control District, the burn will only conducted only when weather and air quality conditions are favorable. This would allow smoke to be directed away from populated areas.

Who All Are Involved?

The operation is being coordinated by several air quality and fire agencies. They are Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District, San Luis Obispo County Air Pollution Control District, San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District, Ventura County Air Pollution Control District, and California Air Resources Board.

Additional partners include the Santa Barbara County Fire Department, CAL FIRE, Chumash Fire Department, and The Nature Conservancy.

Apart from the latest prescribed burn, fire crews recently completed work in other parts of the forest. Over the past week, crews removed hazardous fuels in the Pine Mountain Club and Cerro Noreste areas on the Mt. Pinos Ranger District of the Los Padres National Forest.

The project treated roughly 125 acres by burning more than 400 piles of woody debris. The was expected to help reduce flammable material on the forest floor. According to the U.S. Forest Service, the work helps create more resilient landscapes that are better able to withstand disease, drought, and wildfires.