The Santa Barbara County Fire Department plans to conduct a prescribed burn for training purposes at the Chamberlin Ranch, near Los Olivos, between November and mid-December.
Prescribed fires, which typically burn less intensely than wildfires, can help prevent the spread of wildfires and can reduce impacts to watersheds that can result in soil loss and sedimentation.
This event is a prescribed fire broadcast burn to achieve training for new Santa Barbara County Fire personnel and new Santa Barbara County Range Improvement Association members. About 117 acres of sage scrub and oak woodland will be burned over one-two days.
Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District (APCD) staff review the Smoke Management Plan and provide conditions to minimize smoke impacts in Santa Barbara County. The burn will occur when the meteorological conditions are highly favorable to direct smoke away from population centers.
Once the burn day has been selected, an advisory will be issued.
This prescribed burn is planned and coordinated by the 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 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.
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
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.
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 while driving near prescribed fire operations.
For more information regarding 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.