GONZALES — Smoke was seen from miles away as Cal Fire conducted a prescribed burn on private property in the Gabilan Range near Soledad on Nov. 7.
The prescribed burn of approximately 318 acres was to reduce flammable vegetation near Soledad and Gonzales. The burn was also to increase available water and deer forage.
Because the project was dependent on weather conditions, Cal Fire was in close consultation with the National Weather Service’s Monterey office and the Monterey Bay Unified Air Pollution Control District for the forecast.
According to a news release issued by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection San Benito-Monterey Unit, the firefighters wanted to ensure that wind direction carried the smoke away from the Salinas Valley to minimize impacts.
