Sonoma Valley Smoke Advisory: 2 Prescribed Burns Planned

SONOMA COUNTY, CA — Sonoma Land Trust and Audubon Canyon Ranch advised the public of two prescribed burns planned for next week in Sonoma Valley.

The first burn is Monday, Oct. 28. It is 22 acres at Bouverie Preserve and Glen Oaks Ranch, 13815 Sonoma Highway, between Arnold Drive and Aurora Lane in Glen Ellen. The fire starts as early as 10 a.m. and will consume three adjacent units totaling 22 acres of oak savannah with an understory of grass.

Fire operations conclude at 5 p.m., but residents in the Kenwood and Sonoma area may see or smell smoke in the air for up to 10 hours. Travelers on Sonoma Highway 12 may notice smoke and experience slowing traffic, according to a joint news release from Audobon Canyon Ranch and Sonoma Land Trust.

Bouverie Preserve and Glen Oaks Ranch Preserve are adjacent protected lands along state Highway 12. They are owned and managed by Audubon Canyon Ranch and Sonoma Land Trust. Since
2016, prescribed burning has been used as one of many tools to support ecosystem health on
these lands. The goal of Monday's prescribed burn is to improve the health of fire-maintained oak and grassland ecosystems while reducing natural fuels and building resilience against wildfire.

"This is a permitted burn; please avoid calling 9-1-1 to report smoke and fire in the prescribed area. Roadway signage will be posted," the two groups said in the news release.

The second burn is Wednesday, Oct. 30. It is a 25-acre prescribed fire at Sonoma Mountain Vernal Pools Preserve in the 8300 block of Bennett Valley Road, between Enterprise Road and Keiser Ranch Road in Glen Ellen. It will consist of two adjacent units totaling 25 acres of native grassland and sparse oak overstory.

The preserve at Sonoma Mountain Vernal Pools was protected in 2023 by Sonoma Land Trust, the
Swig-Dinner-Ferris family, and many partners. This property is essential to regional
conservation because it protects rare species, contains diverse habitats such as vernal pools,
and secures a portion of a wildlife linkage.

The preserve has intact native perennial grasslands—a rarity in the region. Native grasses and
flowers that live there need periodic, low-intensity fire to stay their healthiest. Low-intensity
fire will remove a buildup of non-native grass and create opportunities for native plants to
regenerate. The goal of Wednesday's prescribed burn is to renew the vigor of these native ecosystems while reducing natural fuels and building resilience against wildfire.

"These activities contribute to regional stewardship goals developed by the Sonoma Valley Wildlands Collaborative, comprised of Audubon Canyon Ranch, California State Parks, Mitsui Ranch Preserve, Sonoma County Regional Parks and Sonoma Land Trust," officials said in the news release. "The Collaborative collectively owns and manages 18,000 acres in the Sonoma Valley and is focused on using prescribed fires that benefit native habitat and build wildfire resilience across the region."

These cooperative prescribed burns, which serve as valuable training for community members and firefighters, are being conducted by prescribed fire managers from Audubon Canyon Ranch’s Fire Forward program and Sonoma Land Trust, with support from local fire agencies and the Good Fire Alliance, Sonoma County’s prescribed fire association. The crew will manage burn activities during the day and patrol the unit through the night and the following days until all heat has been extinguished.

People neighboring the burn sites were notified that each fire takes up most of the day. Children, older adults, and those with respiratory conditions should consider limiting outdoor activities. When local air quality becomes poor because of a burn, using an air filter at home is recommended.

Dates for such burns are subject to change depending on several factors, including a weather forecast that meets parameters and burn day approvals/permits from Cal Fire and the Bay Area Air Quality Management District.

Before each burn, Sonoma Land Trust plans to share information via media outlets, social media, and the Watch Duty notification app. Community members can sign up for smoke alerts and notifications about future prescribed burns.