Prescribed burns scheduled this winter
–The California Department of Parks and Recreation, in cooperation with the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire), has tentatively scheduled several prescribed burns and pile burnings between now and May 30, 2016.
The broadcast burn sites include the Monterey pine forest and grasslands near the Washburn Campground area of Hearst San Simeon State Park, the Black Hill area of Morro Bay State Park, the northwest portion of Harmony Headlands State Park, and the coastal terrace at Montana de Oro State Park south of Spooner’s Cove. Pile burning will occur at both the San Simeon and Black Hill populations of Monterey pines.
This burning is part of the prescribed fire program for vegetation management and fuel load reduction.
The Monterey pine forests are experiencing major die-offs due to pine pitch canker disease, compounded by drought These treatments will enhance the health of the forests by removing diseased materials, restoring essential nutrients to the soil, and reducing the chance of a catastrophic fire. These treatments will also reduce dangerous fuel loads adjacent to residences. In addition, these burns will be used to maintain open grasslands in coastal scrub and to encourage pine recruitment in grasslands by using fire to open the seed cones.
Some public trails near the burns may be closed the day of the burn. People in the Cayucos, Harmony, Morro Bay, Los Osos, and the Cambria areas and/or travelling near the coast may see smoke from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on prescribed burn days.
In the unlikely event you smell smoke, county officials urge you to take precautions and use common sense to reduce any harmful health effects by limiting outdoor activities. These precautions are especially important for children, the elderly, and people with respiratory and heart conditions. For the smoke sensitive, consider relocating activities and closing all doors and windows on the burn days.
The actual burn dates will be based upon lifting of the current burn ban, weather, smoke dispersal, and brush conditions as determined by the Air Pollution Control District. If conditions are not acceptable, the burn will be rescheduled.
On the permissible burn days, the prescribed burning will begin at approximately 10 a.m. and conclude by 5 p.m. County officials will continue to closely monitor air pollution levels throughout the region and provide updated forecasts on the APCD website. For more information regarding air quality and related issues, go to the APCD website: www.slocleanair.org or call (805) 781-4390.
