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Source: CalFire
November 21, 2024 (San Diego's East County) - - The CAL FIRE San Diego Unit is preparing to conduct prescribed burns across San Diego and Imperial Counties as part of an ongoing effort to reduce wildfire risk, enhance ecosystem health, and protect community safety. These projects are planned during carefully selected weather conditions that meet specific safety and ecological parameters. A controlled burn is being conducted today in the Campo area.
Each prescribed burn project undergoes a comprehensive review to ensure it meets the criteria for environmental benefit, appropriate weather, smoke management, and fire safety. Once a project is approved, trained CAL FIRE personnel will conduct the burns under strict guidelines.
Firefighters will monitor fire behavior, control lines, and weather conditions throughout the operation. If weather or other conditions change, burns will be rescheduled to ensure safety standards are maintained.
As part of this process, CAL FIRE works closely with San Diego and Imperial County's Air Pollution Control District to ensure compliance with air quality guidelines and to minimize impacts to surrounding communities. Air quality standards must be met, and the district must approve each project before any burning begins.
The Role of Fire in Ecosystem Health
Fire is a natural process essential to maintaining the health of fire-adapted ecosystems, including many forests and woodlands across California. Years of fire exclusion have led to dense vegetation, an increased risk of wildfires, and reduced forest resilience to droughts and pests.
Prescribed fire is an essential tool in forest management, helping to reduce excess vegetation, restore native plant communities, and create healthier, more resilient landscapes.
Through these prescribed burns, CAL FIRE aims to protect life, property, and natural resources that would otherwise be at greater risk from unplanned wildfires. By mimicking natural fire cycles, these burns are also designed to improve wildlife habitats and promote the growth of native plants.
Community members can stay informed about these projects and other fuels reduction efforts across the state through the CAL FIRE fuel reduction project tracker:
https://www.fire.ca.gov/what-we-do/natural-resource-management/fuels-reduction.
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