Prescribed Burn Information

VSFB Watt Training Burns to Start Tomorrow

WHAT: Vandenberg Space Force Base (VSFB) Fire Department will be conducting a prescribed burn of approximately 5-10 acres of grassland and coastal sage scrub. The total project area size is 30 acres.

WHEN: June 12-13 and June 16-27. These burns will occur over multiple days. Burning operations may or may not occur on consecutive days, depending on conditions. Burning operations will occur on permissive burn days.

WHERE: This prescribed burn will occur at North Base VSFB near Watt Road and 13th Street.

WHY: The goal of these fires is to train newly assigned firefighters, and dozer operators in combating wildland fires. Prescribed, or planned, fires typically burn less intensely than wildfires. Numerous small ignitions of a half-acre to multiple acres will occur on the given approved burn day. These fires will then be suppressed by on scene firefighters and equipment. Prescribed burns can help prevent the spread of wildfires and can reduce impacts to watersheds that can result in soil loss and sedimentation.

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Training Burns at VSFB Scheduled

The Vandenberg SFB Fire Department has been scheduled to conduct a series of small, controlled fires for training purposes in June. The goal of these fires is to train newly assigned firefighters and dozer operators in combating wildland fires. Prescribed, or planned, fires typically burn less intensely than wildfires. Numerous small ignitions of a half-acre to multiple acres will occur on the given approved burn day. These fires will then be suppressed by on-scene firefighters and equipment. Prescribed burns can help prevent the spread of wildfires, and can reduce impacts to watersheds that can result in soil loss and sedimentation.

This prescribed training burn will occur near the intersection of Watt Road and 13th Street on North VSFB, with a burn window of June 12-13 and June 16-27. Approximately 5-10 acres of grassland and coastal sage scrub will be burned over a period of multiple days. The total project area size is 30 acres. The burns will begin at 9 a.m. and conclude at 6 p.m. on permissive burn days.

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Prescribed Burn to Occur to Occur Today

WHEN: May 30, depending on conditions.

WHERE: The Jack and Laura Dangermond Preserve (see map).

WHY: The purpose of the prescribed burn is to facilitate coastal grassland habitat restoration at a 40-acre site at the Preserve. The goal is to remove non-native plants and thatch to clear the area for native plant restoration in the fall. Prescribed burns can help prevent the spread of wildfires and can reduce impacts to watersheds that can result in soil loss and sedimentation. The burn will be conducted when the meteorological conditions are highly favorable to direct smoke away from population centers.

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Prescribed Burn to Occur in Late May or Early June

The upcoming prescribed burn is led by The Nature Conservancy (TNC) at the Jack and Laura Dangermond Preserve. The purpose of the prescribed burn is to facilitate coastal grassland habitat restoration at a 40-acre site at the Preserve. The goal is to remove non-native plants and thatch to clear the area for native plant restoration in the fall. The Nature Conservancy has coordinated the burn with the Santa Barbara County Fire Department, who will be present at the burn.

The burn is planned for one day between May 27-30. If conditions do not allow for burning during this window, the back-up week will be June 9-14. If the burn does not occur during these two windows, the burn will be postponed until Fall 2025. The 40-acre site consists primarily of non-native annual grasses and noxious weeds like black mustard.

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Prescribed Pile Burning Scheduled for the Next Week

WHAT: Prescribed pile burning of approximately 40 treated acres of slash from felled dead trees and brush.
WHEN: May 14-21. 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). The sites for this period are the Painted Cave and Trout Club areas.

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Paradise Road Pile Burns this Week

The Santa Barbara County Fire Department plans to conduct prescribed pile burns along Paradise Road this week, as conditions allow. Prescribed 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.

Approximately two acres (approximately 10 piles) of plant material will be burned. 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. The burns will occur when the meteorological conditions are highly favorable to direct smoke away from population centers.

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Prescribed Pile Burning Scheduled for the Next Two Weeks

WHAT: Prescribed pile burning of 1-10 treated acres of slash from felled dead trees and brush.
WHEN: April 1-10. Additional series of burns will occur through the spring 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). The site for this timeframe is the Painted Cave area.

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Prescribed Pile Burning Scheduled for the Next Week

WHAT: State-approved Vegetation Management Program burn of approximately 500 acres of chaparral, sage scrub, and Oak Woodland with grass understory.
WHEN: December 7-10, depending on conditions. This burn will occur over 3-4 days. Burning operations may or may not occur on consecutive days, depending on conditions. If burning does not occur on consecutive days, an additional day-before media advisory will be distributed. Burning operations will occur on permissive burn days.
WHERE: Spaulding/Midland area, approximately 3 miles north of Los Olivos.

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Prescribed Pile Burns in South County May Occur Over Next Two Weeks

WHAT: State-approved Vegetation Management Program burn of approximately 500 acres of chaparral, sage scrub, and Oak Woodland with grass understory.
WHEN: December 7-10, depending on conditions. This burn will occur over 3-4 days. Burning operations may or may not occur on consecutive days, depending on conditions. If burning does not occur on consecutive days, an additional day-before media advisory will be distributed. Burning operations will occur on permissive burn days.
WHERE: Spaulding/Midland area, approximately 3 miles north of Los Olivos.

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Prescribed Pile Burns in South County May Occur Wednesday-Friday

WHAT: State-approved Vegetation Management Program burn of approximately 500 acres of chaparral, sage scrub, and Oak Woodland with grass understory.
WHEN: December 7-10, depending on conditions. This burn will occur over 3-4 days. Burning operations may or may not occur on consecutive days, depending on conditions. If burning does not occur on consecutive days, an additional day-before media advisory will be distributed. Burning operations will occur on permissive burn days.
WHERE: Spaulding/Midland area, approximately 3 miles north of Los Olivos.

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