FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 6, 2017
Contacts:
Dave Zaniboni, Public Information Officer, Santa Barbara County Fire Department, (805) 681-5531
Lyz Hoffman, Public Information Officer, Santa Barbara County APCD, (805) 961-8819
Santa Maria Canyon Prescribed Burn Scheduled for Mid-October
To be Scheduled, Weather and Conditions Permitting, October 11 or 12
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — The Santa Barbara County Fire Department has tentatively scheduled a Prescribed Burn at 5555 Santa Maria Mesa Road with a burn window through October 31. The goal of this one-day burn is to reduce the risk of wildfire. Approximately 209 acres of grassland and Venturian Coastal Sage Scrub will be burned. The burn is scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. and conclude at 6 p.m. on a permissive burn day. Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District (APCD) staff have reviewed the Santa Maria Canyon Smoke Management Plan and provided conditions to minimize smoke impacts in Santa Barbara County. The burn will be conducted when the meteorological conditions are highly favorable to direct smoke away from population centers.
This prescribed burn is planned and coordinated by the 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.
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. Please use extreme caution while driving near prescribed fire operations.
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