Sedgwick Reserve Research Burn Scheduled for This Week

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 12, 2020

En Español

Contacts:

Daniel Bertucelli, Public Information Officer, Santa Barbara County Fire Department, (805) 681-5531
Lyz Hoffman, Public Information Officer, Santa Barbara County APCD, (805) 961-8819

Sedgwick Reserve Research Burn Scheduled for This Week

SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, Calif. — The Santa Barbara County Fire Department will be conducting a research burn on the Sedgwick Reserve in the Santa Ynez Valley, just east of and adjacent to Figueroa Creek. The goal of this burn is to study the effects of fire behavior on varying rangeland vegetation types and vegetative loads. Approximately three acres of grass of varying height will be burned.

Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District (APCD) staff have reviewed the 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 burn is being planned and coordinated by 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 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. Symptoms of smoke exposure can include coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, chest tightness or pain, nausea, and unusual fatigue or lightheadedness. Please use caution while driving near prescribed fire operations.


For more information regarding the county’s air quality, visit Today’s Air Quality.

To view prescribed burns throughout the state, visit the Prescribed Fire Information Reporting System (PFIRS) website.

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