California State Parks staff are burning piles in mountain areas of state parks in Santa Cruz County when conditions allow from now until April.
About 400 piles are scheduled to be burned throughout Big Basin Redwoods State Park, Castle Rock State Park and Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, including the Fall Creek Unit.
This work will be dependent on dry weather and winds that disperse smoke away from populated areas, as permitted and coordinated by the Monterey Bay Air Resources District.
This work is part of efforts to reduce fuel loads around old-growth redwood habitat, reduce the risk of extreme fire behavior, improve the health of the forests and thin understory trees that are outpacing the growth of the fire-adapted black oak woodlands.
Staff monitor the piles until they are extinguished and cold, and patrol nearby into the evenings or weekends as required. Smoke may be visible near parks. If conditions aren’t right for burns, they’ll be rescheduled.
Park officials said these pile burn projects improve emergency access, foster forest health, and enhance biodiversity.
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