LOCKWOOD — Conditions and weather permitting, Cal Fire plans to conduct pile burning near Williams Hill, east of Lockwood, in southern Monterey County during the month of March.
The purpose of the project is to remove excess vegetation along the historic fuel break.
“This prescribed fire project was planned as part of broader strategic efforts to protect the local community and nearby natural resources,” according to Cal Fire. “These plans are informed by community and local stakeholder input and serve as a collaborative effort with a range of cooperators throughout the course of the project.”
This project adds to significant work underway throughout the state and brings California one step closer toward meeting or exceeding state fuels reduction goals directed by the California Fire Plan and the California Wildfire and Forest Resilience Action Plan.
Each operation follows a specialized burn plan, which considers temperature, humidity, wind, moisture of the vegetation and conditions for dispersal of smoke. All this information is used to decide when and where to burn.
“Smoke from prescribed fire operations is normal and may continue for several days after an ignition depending on the project size, conditions and weather,” stated Cal Fire. “Prescribed fire smoke is generally less intense and of much shorter duration than smoke produced by wildland fires.”
Smoke from this control burn will be visible in the vicinity of Lockwood.
Weather conditions will be monitored, and the burn may be postponed if burning conditions are found to be unfavorable.
“Cal Fire is in close consultation with the National Weather Service’s Monterey office and Monterey Bay Air Resources District to ensure that the burn takes place in appropriate weather conditions,” the agency stated. “The project may be postponed if conditions are not conducive to a safe burn.”
