Cal Fire, Sonoma County Parks Partner For Prescribed Burns

SONOMA COUNTY, CA — Sonoma County Regional Parks and Cal Fire's Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit have partnered to conduct several prescribed burns this fall and winter, the agencies announced in a joint news release.

Specific dates, times and park closures will be publicized through additional news releases, on the county parks website and on social media.

"These are permitted controlled burns; do not call 911," Sonoma County Regional Parks said. "These prescribed burns are planned and coordinated with the Air Resources Control Board to minimize smoke impacts on surrounding communities."

Such burns are carefully planned and must meet strict criteria for ecological benefit, weather parameters, smoke management and fire safety guidelines, the agencies said. Trained wildland firefighters conduct the burn while monitoring the set criteria, fire behavior and designated fire control lines — with last-minute changes possible.

Prescribed fire is the purposeful use of fire in an area. It reduces the buildup of surface and ladder fuels — which, left untouched, enable fire to climb into the tree canopy and can feed high-severity fires that reduce forests to ash. Even with the use of prescribed fire, future wildfires will still occur, but reducing built-up fuel will result in lower-intensity fires, officials said.