A prescribed burn covering about 100 acres of brush and vegetation beneath oak trees sent up a large column of smoke Monday afternoon east of Santa Maria. 

The burn totaling 260 acres near Tepusquet Road in Tepusquet Canyon may occur through Friday, depending on conditions.

These burns, which started Friday and continued through the weekend, are part of an ongoing management effort to control non-native grasses and establish native bluff scrub vegetation. 

“Prescribed fires typically burn less intensely than wildfires and can help prevent their spread. The burn will be conducted when the meteorological conditions are highly favorable to direct smoke away from population centers,” authorities said.

Any prescribed burn is planned and coordinated by the Santa Barbara County Fire Department with Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District, San Luis Obispo County APCD, San Joaquin Valley APCD, Ventura County APCD, and the California Air Resources Board to minimize air quality impacts.

Authorities advised residents who smell smoke to take precautions and use common sense to avoid harmful effects by limiting outdoor activities. These precautions are especially important to children, older adults, and those with heart and lung conditions. 

Symptoms of smoke exposure can include coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, chest tightness or pain, nausea, and unusual fatigue or lightheadedness. Use caution when driving near prescribed burns.

A portable monitor will be set up nearby to monitor air quality conditions.

Decisions on proceeding with prescribed burns are dependent on weather and air quality conditions that are favorable for smoke dispersal.

For more information about this prescribed burn, as well as upcoming and past prescribed burns, go to APCD’s new Prescribed Burns Map: https://rxburns.ourair.org.