APCD
Update by the Santa Barbara County Fire Department
December 2, 2021
REMINDER- SBC is on scene of a state-approved vegetation management program burn of 200 acres of sage scrub, oak woodland and grass understory happening on the BarM Ranch north of Buellton. Smoke is visible throughout the county.
Photo: Mike Eliason / SBCFD
Source: Air Pollution Control District
December 1, 2021
WHAT: State-approved Vegetation Management Program burn of approximately 200 acres of sage scrub and Oak Woodland with grass understory.
WHEN:December 2, depending on conditions. Burning operations may occur on additional days if needed and as conditions allow. Another day-before media advisory will be issued if another day of burning occurs.
WHERE: BarM Ranch (also known as Barham Ranch), 4 miles southeast of Los Alamos.
WHY: This burn will reduce old growth fuel loads, with a range improvement component. Prescribed, or planned, fires typically burn less intensely than wildfires. Prescribed burns can help prevent the spread of wildfires and can reduce impacts to watersheds that can result in soil loss and sedimentation. The burn will be conducted when the meteorological conditions are highly favorable to direct smoke away from population centers.
WHO: This prescribed burn is planned and coordinated by the Santa Barbara County Fire Department with Santa Barbara County APCD, San Luis Obispo County APCD, San Joaquin Valley APCD, Ventura County APCD, and the California Air Resources Board in order to minimize impacts on air quality on surrounding communities.
HEALTH PRECAUTIONS: If you smell smoke, take precautions and use common sense to reduce any harmful health effects by limiting outdoor activities. When you can smell smoke or when it is visible in your area, avoid strenuous outdoor activity and remain indoors as much as possible. These precautions are especially important to children, older adults, and those with heart and lung conditions. If you are sensitive to smoke, consider temporarily relocating and closing all doors and windows on the day of the burn. Symptoms of smoke exposure can include coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, chest tightness or pain, nausea, and unusual fatigue or lightheadedness. Use caution when driving near prescribed burns.
A portable air monitor will be set up nearby to monitor air quality conditions.
This burn depends on weather and air quality conditions that are favorable for smoke dispersal. If the conditions are not as desired, the burn will be rescheduled.
To view a statewide prescribed burn map and other features, visit the Prescribed Fire Information Reporting System (PFIRS) website: https://ssl.arb.ca.gov/pfirs/firm/firm.php
A small planned fire during favorable weather conditions will be far less impactful on wildlife than a larger wildfire during unfavorable conditions. Fire is an immutable part of our landscape, but we can make fires less intense and less destructive utilizing planes burns.
Great for humans’ wildlife risk, and great for the environment! We need more prescribed burns, they are one of the only ways to mitigate the extreme fire behavior we have seen in recent decades. Bring on more prescribed burns!
Smoke hung thick and heavy over the SYV all day. My asthma is severely exacerbated with every “controlled” burn – even with all the windows closed and not stepping a foot outside all day, my lungs are literally rattling with every breath in and every breath out. These occur most of the year up here, and it’s absolute disgusting misery. There must be a better way. The pollutants are horrendous.
I’m looking at this right, that does not look controlled
The myth that burning their habitat is “good” for wildlife is the epitome of human self-delusion.