The Santa Barbara County Fire Department plans to conduct prescribed fire pile burns in the San Antonio Creek area (see map) next week, as conditions allow.

Approximately 20 piles of cut vegetation (approximately four combined acres) will be burned as part of the San Antonio Creek pile burns. 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. Burning will occur when the meteorological conditions are highly favorable to direct smoke away from population centers.

WHAT: The U.S. Forest Service for the Los Padres National Forest has scheduled prescribed burning in the Camino Cielo Ridge Area near Painted Cave Road and Highway 154.

WHEN: February 27 – March 6. This burn is expected to occur over a one-week period.

WHERE: This area includes a burn area near Haney East (see maps) for approximately 26 acres of combined burning. The burn sites will be staffed 24/7 if there is heat or smoke present.

WHAT: The U.S. Forest Service for the Los Padres National Forest has scheduled prescribed burning in the Camino Cielo Ridge Area near Painted Cave Road and Highway 154.

WHEN: February 5

WHERE: Approximately 3 acres will be burned near the “Glass Factory” area (see map). The burn sites will be staffed 24/7 if there is heat or smoke present.

WHAT: The U.S. Forest Service for the Los Padres National Forest has scheduled prescribed burning in the Camino Cielo Ridge Area near Painted Cave Road and Highway 154.

WHEN: January 28.  

WHERE: This area includes burn areas near Haney West (see maps) for approximately 20 acres of combined burning. The burn sites will be staffed 24/7 if there is heat or smoke present.

WHAT: The U.S. Forest Service for the Los Padres National Forest has scheduled prescribed burning in the Camino Cielo Ridge Area near Painted Cave Road and Highway 154.

WHEN: January 20-25. This burn is expected to occur over a two-week period. If there is potential for continuing burning the week of January 26, an additional advisory will be issued.  

The U.S. Forest Service for the Los Padres National Forest has scheduled prescribed burning to start this month in the Camino Cielo Ridge Area near Painted Cave Road and Highway 154. This area includes burn areas near Painted Cave, Haney East, and Haney West (see maps), for approximately 57 combined acres of burning. This prescribed burning is part of the Santa Barbara Community Defense Zone project. The goal of the burns is to reduce hazardous fuels to reduce the risk of wildfire. Prescribed, or planned, fires typically burn less intensely than wildfires.

WHAT: Prescribed pile burning of 1-10 treated acres of slash from felled dead trees and brush.

WHEN: December 8-12. Additional series of burns will occur through the winter as conditions permit. Most burning operations will begin in the morning and conclude in the afternoon. However, some burning operations may continue through the evening to allow for full consumption of flammable material.

WHERE: Burning will occur at various forest administrative sites (updated on Los Padres Twitter/X and Facebook accounts).

WHAT: Approximately 281 acres of sage and oak understory will be burned.

WHEN: November 8-10, depending on conditions.

WHERE: Sedgwick Reserve in the Santa Ynez Valley.

WHY: The burn is being conducted to reduce fuels in the area to protect neighboring communities.

The Los Padres National Forest has tentatively scheduled prescribed burns at various administrative sites on forest lands (Campgrounds, Trailheads, and Fire Stations) with a burn window of November through December. The goal of the burns is to reduce the risk of wildfire. Prescribed, or planned, fires typically burn less intensely than wildfires. Prescribed burns can help prevent the spread of wildfires and can reduce impacts to watersheds that can result in soil loss and sedimentation.

The Santa Barbara County Fire Department plans to conduct a prescribed burn at the Sedgwick Reserve in the Santa Ynez Valley in early November, depending on conditions. Prescribed fires typically burn less intensely than wildfires. Prescribed burns help prevent the spread of wildfires and can reduce impacts to watersheds that can result in soil loss and sedimentation.