Controlled Burn Cuts Down On Dry Brush In SMC

SAN MATEO COUNTY, CA — Residents and drivers in the area of Half Moon Bay may have seen a little smoke in the air Monday as Cal Fire crews got to work on a controlled burn on Pomponio Ranch in San Gregorio.

The ranchland runs along the coast of San Mateo County, roughly 12 miles south of Half Moon Bay and 5 miles east of Pomponio State Beach. Cal Fire's San Mateo-Santa Cruz unit was scheduled to burn approximately 100 acres of brush and grass Monday, finishing a fuel reduction program that began on Oct. 12.

In a news release Saturday, Cal Fire officials said smoke could be visible from Half Moon Bay and Pescadero, with a large number of fire engines and equipment stationed near the burn area.

Officials acknowledged the red flag warning in place over the weekend and said the prescribed burn would move forward as long as it expired on time. The goal of the fire is to cut down on brush encroaching on pasture land, increase the coastal prairie and reduce other fire fuels.

"We will only proceed with burning if there is no fire activity locally and the watch has expired,' said Sarah Callamer, a Cal Fire Forester. "We've had some rain but the brush doesn't absorb moisture as quickly as grass, so that means the brush is still available to burn."

The warning expired Sunday evening, and the burn moved forward as scheduled. Cal Fire officials asked residents to avoid calling 911 over smoke coming from the fire area.