With cooler conditions in the forecast for next week, the Fire Management staff at Point Reyes National Seashore is planning two days of controlled burning along Highway One in the Olema Valley. Burning in the Olema Valley is scheduled for Tuesday, October 7, and Thursday, October 9, but will be rescheduled if conditions are too wet, dry, or windy, or if the air will not provide good smoke dispersion.
The area to be burned consists of two units that total 195 acres on the east side of Highway One, approximately 7 miles south of Olema, between the Randall Trail and Dogtown. The 115-acre Strain Hill Unit will be burned first, followed by the 80-acre McCurdy Unit. Each unit could take up to two days to complete.
These burns are part of a strategy to create a strategic fuelbreak along the Highway One corridor where a wildfire will be easier to control. The target burn rotation for the Highway One burn units is every other year to reduce the invasive French broom population and maintain open grasslands in between large areas of dense forest on Bolinas Ridge and Inverness Ridge.
No road or trail closures are anticipated, however, there may be short traffic delays along Highway One while burning is in progress. Short term smoke impacts are expected in Olema Valley, and may also affect the San Geronimo Valley if the winds are out of the southwest. Drivers should use extra caution in the Olema Valley if smoke is present. Smoke sensitive individuals are encouraged to take actions to avoid or minimize exposure to smoke.
-NPS-
Tags: point reyes point reyes national seashore golden gate national recreation area fire mangement prescribed burn prescribed fire fire
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
