The U.S. Forest Service for the Los Padres National Forest has scheduled prescribed burning in the Camino Cielo Ridge Area near Painted Cave Road and Highway 154, Feb. 27-March 6.

The area includes a burn area near Haney East (see maps) for some 26 acres of combined burning. The burn sites will be staffed 24/7 if there is heat or smoke present.

This prescribed burn is part of the Santa Barbara Community Defense Zone project. The goal is to reduce hazardous fuels 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.

To minimize impacts on air quality on surrounding communities the burns are coordinated by the Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, San Joaquin Valley and Ventura County APCDs, and the California Air Resources Board.

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

This burn depends on weather and air quality conditions that are favorable for smoke dispersal. If the conditions are not as desired, the burn will be rescheduled.

To view a statewide prescribed burn map and other features, visit the Prescribed Fire Information Reporting System website: