Cal Fire’s Santa Cruz-San Mateo (CZU) unit is planning to burn an estimated 40 acres of grass, bushes and dead trees on Friday at Locatelli Ranch in the Santa Cruz Mountains, if the weather conditions allow for it.
Smoke could be visible from Boulder Creek, but should not significantly affect residents, the agency said in a media release.
Scott Bullock, Santa Cruz County’s vegetation management forester, said in athe release that the agency planned to burn vegetation that is encroaching on oak woodland and grassland habitats. Such specialized habitats are disappearing across California amid pressure from population growth and a lack of working ranches, Bullock said: “This is a unique ecosystem that needs to be maintained.”
Prescribed fires can help reduce wildfire risk, Cal Fire said, by creating fuel breaks, reducing the amount of flammable vegetation and plant life that can carry fire from the ground to the canopies of trees. The planned burn is done in accordance with the Monterey Bay Air Resources District and will last one day. Crew members will be on scene for cleanup and patrol.
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