Los Padres National Forest officials scheduled another prescribed burn for the Santa Ynez Mountains ridgeline Wednesday, and the smoke likely would be visible from Santa Barbara.

This follows another burn on Jan. 20, which caused some concern in the community among people who saw the smoke.

The Wednesday burn was planned for 20 acres in the Camino Cielo area, west of Highway 154 and Painted Cave Road, according to the U.S. Forest Service and Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District.

A Wednesday prescribed burn was planned for the Haley West plot, officials said.
A Wednesday prescribed burn was planned for the Haley West plot, officials said. Credit: Courtesy photo

The burn sites will be staffed 24/7 if there is heat or smoke present, agencies said, and the burn is meant to reduce the risk of wildfire.

“Prescribed, or planned, fires typically burn less intensely than wildfires. The burn will be conducted when the meteorological conditions are highly favorable to direct smoke away from population centers,” agencies said.

Noozhawk executive editor Giana Magnoli can be reached at gmagnoli@noozhawk.com.