The Santa Barbara County Fire Department will conduct two prescribed burns in November, with the burn window tentatively set for Nov. 10-18.

Prescribed fires typically burn less intensely than wildfires, according to the Fire Department. Prescribed burns can help prevent the spread of wildfires and can reduce impacts to watersheds that can result in soil loss and sedimentation, the department said.

The upcoming prescribed burns are facilitated by TREX (Prescribed Fire Training Exchanges). TREX exercises bring firefighting partners together to expand their experience with prescribed burns and are facilitated independently of the Santa Barbara County Fire Department.

Santa Barbara County Fire Department will participate by providing fire contingency resources to ensure the fire is contained to the property of origin.

Two different locations will be used during the event to facilitate the needs of
participants involved in the training program, the Fire Department said. Research components of this program help to refine knowledge of the impacts of utilizing prescribed fire on the landscape.

In partnership with The Nature Conservancy, the Dangermond TREX burn burn will occur along Jalama Road outside of Lompoc. About 22 acres will be burned during the single-day training period. A mixture of oak woodland and grassland will be burned.

In partnership with the UCSB Cooperative Extension, the Sedgwick TREX burn will occur on the Sedgwick Reserve in the Santa Ynez Valley.

Some 25 acres will be burned over one to two days. A mixture of grasses and shrubs will be burned.

Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District (APCD) staff review the Smoke Management Plans and provide conditions to minimize smoke impacts in Santa Barbara County.

The burns will occur when the meteorological conditions are highly favorable to direct smoke away from population centers, fire officials said. Once the burn day has been selected for each burn, a day-before advisory will be issued.

TREX event prescribed burns are conducted independent of the Santa Barbara County Fire Department. They are planned and implemented by private burn bosses in coordination 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 in order to minimize impacts on air quality on surrounding communities.

The burn is 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 or cancelled.

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, the Fire Department advises. 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.

Use caution while driving near prescribed fire operations.

For more on 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 website.