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.

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.

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.