MEDIA ADVISORY
September 10, 2024
Contacts:
Aeron Arlin Genet, Air Pollution Control Officer, Santa Barbara County APCD, (805) 979-8282
Scott Safechuck, Public Information Officer, Santa Barbara County Fire, (805) 681-5531
Prescribed Burn at UCSB Lagoon Scheduled For Tomorrow
WHAT: A prescribed burn at UC Santa Barbara’s Lagoon Island conducted by the Cheadle Center for Biodiversity and Ecological Restoration (Cheadle Center), in coordination with Santa Barbara County Fire Department and the Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District.
WHEN: September 11, 2024, depending on weather conditions. Burning operations will begin in the late morning and are expected to conclude by 4 p.m. on a permissive burn day. The active smoke period is anticipated to last approximately one hour.
WHERE: Lagoon Island, UC Santa Barbara Campus.
WHY: This burn is part of an ongoing ecological management effort to restore native habitats on Lagoon Island. The prescribed burn will cover a quarter acre of invasive grassland, along with cut and dried Coyote brush branches to ensure the fire reaches the necessary intensity. Research conducted at UCSB indicates that a sufficiently intense fire can sterilize the seedbank of invasive grasses, such as rip-gut brome, and promote the growth of native wildflower fields and Coastal Sage Scrub habitat. This will be the 8th prescribed burn since 2011. The area will then be seeded with various native wildflower species, including Red Maids, Common Phacelia, Fiddleneck, California Poppies, Wine-Cup Clarkia, and Blue Toadflax, to better inform future restoration efforts. Additionally, a quarter acre within a previously burned area from 2016, now restored to Coastal Sage Scrub, will also be burned to study how past restoration efforts respond to re-burning. The burn will be conducted when the meteorological conditions are highly favorable to direct smoke away from population centers.
WHO: This prescribed burn smoke management 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.
SAFETY AND TRAIL ACCESS: The public is asked to respect any trail closures and the space needed by fire personnel during the burn. Fire personnel and Cheadle Center staff will monitor the site for flare-ups throughout the day to ensure the fire is fully extinguished and to manage any potential issues. Please use caution while driving near prescribed fire operations.
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 in the area to monitor air quality conditions.
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
