Prescribed Burn May Produce Smoke In Parts Of Lamorinda

LAMORINDA, CA — If you see smoke Tuesday in Lamorinda, do not be alarmed.

The Moraga-Orinda Fire District planned to burn piles of brush until 5 p.m. at Mulholland Ridge, which is likely to produce smoke in the area.

The Mulholland Ridge Open Space Preserve is a 250-acre park atop Donald Drive on the Moraga/Orinda border.

Moraga-Orinda Fire District was scheduled to return to the preserve Tuesday and Wednesday to complete a prescribed fire project that was started in March. The project is intended to reduce hazardous wildfire fuels in the area and improve conditions for native plants.

If weather and fuel conditions continue to be favorable, the Moraga-Orinda Fire District and Contra Costa County Fire Crew 12 were slated to begin burning 35 of the remaining piles of brush and slash at around 9 a.m. Tuesday.

The Moraga-Orinda Fire District is coordinating the project for the Town of Moraga with the Bay Area Air Quality Management District to ensure the burn is conducted safely and with minimal smoke impacts to the community, the fire district said on its Facebook page.

Students at Donald Rheem Elementary School are on spring break and will not be on campus during the burns.

"Safety is our number one priority," the fire district said. "If burning conditions become unfavorable the project will be rescheduled. Motorists driving in Rheem may see or smell smoke. Nearby residents are advised to close exterior doors and windows to keep smoke from entering their homes."

Signs cautioning motorists and cyclists of the fire equipment traffic and the potential for reduced visibility will be posted in the area, and MOFD said it would continue to provide information related to the project via NextDoor, Nixle and the MOFD Facebook page.