LOCKWOOD — Conditions and weather permitting, Cal Fire plans to conduct a multi-week pile burning on Westside Fuel Break of Southern Monterey County starting March 31.
The project will be along the Lockwood-San Lucas Road, which will remain open during operations. The purpose of the project is to remove excess vegetation along the Westside Fuel Break.
“This prescribed fire project was planned as part of broader strategic efforts to protect the local community and nearby natural resources,” according to Cal Fire. “These plans are informed by community and local stakeholder input and serve as a collaborative effort with a range of cooperators throughout the course of the project.”
This project adds to significant work underway throughout the state and brings California one step closer toward meeting or exceeding state fuels reduction goals directed by the California Fire Plan and the California Wildfire and Forest Resilience Action Plan.
Each operation follows a specialized burn plan, which considers temperature, humidity, wind, moisture of the vegetation and conditions for dispersal of smoke. All this information is used to decide when and where to burn.
Smoke from prescribed fire operations is normal and may continue for several days after an ignition depending on the project size, conditions and weather. Prescribed fire smoke is generally less intense and of much shorter duration than smoke produced by wildland fires.
“Weather conditions will be monitored, and burn may be postponed if burning conditions are found to be unfavorable,” stated Cal Fire. “Cal Fire is in close consultation with the National Weather Service’s Monterey office and Monterey Bay Air Resources District to ensure that burn takes place in appropriate weather conditions; the project may be postponed if conditions are not conducive to a safe burn.”
For additional information on preparing for and preventing wildfires, visit ReadyForWildfire.org.
