California State Parks plans to ignite 70 burn piles at Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park Tuesday, March 15, and Graham Hill Road may close temporarily near Lockewood Lane due to smoke.
This is part of the prescribed fire program to reduce fuel load in the forest, improve wildlife habitat and lower the chance of a catastrophic wildfire.
Proactive monitoring and patrol will take place through the week, State Parks said.
These burn piles are permitted, planned and coordinated with the Monterey Bay Air Quality Management District and the Bay Area Air Quality Management District. All burning depends on whether weather and air quality conditions are favorable for smoke dispersal. If the conditions are not conducive for burning, the burns will be rescheduled.
People around the Santa Cruz Mountains area as well as those driving on Graham Hill Road may see smoke on the day of the burn. If you smell smoke, use common sense and limit outdoor activities to reduce harmful health effects.
These precautions are especially important for children, the elderly and people with respiratory and heart conditions. Drivers are asked to use extreme caution near burn pile operations due to fire personnel and equipment in the area.
Personnel participating in the project are to adhere to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and state guidelines to minimize exposure to and the spread of COVID-19.
For updates, visit the Santa Cruz Fire Management Facebook page.