Prescribed fire planned for Sonoma Valley Regional Park on June 17, 2019

The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE), Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit, is planning a prescribed burn for Sonoma Valley Regional Park along Highway 12 in Glen Ellen on Monday, June 17, 2019. Fire crews will burn approximately 34 acres between 8:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Smoke will be visible in the air and fire crews and flames will be visible along the highway frontage while the burn is managed.

This project is a collaboration between CAL FIRE, Sonoma County Regional Parks and the Sonoma Valley Wildlands Collaborative. The burn will take place in grassland that covers the park’s eastern boundary with the highway. Burning will not occur in the park’s woodlands. The park will be closed Monday and Tuesday.

Nearly all of Sonoma Valley Regional Park burned in the 2017 Nuns Fire, and this burn is being conducted to reduce the risks of future wildfire as well as to promote biodiversity and control invasive species. The project is part of a coordinated effort of several land management organizations to improve fire and vegetation management in the Sonoma Valley.

Prescribed vegetation management burns are carefully planned and must meet strict criteria for ecological benefit, weather parameters, smoke management, and fire safety guidelines. (The planned date is subject to last-minute changes due to those considerations.) When all conditions are met, trained wildland firefighters conduct the burn while monitoring the set criteria, fire behavior, and designated fire control lines. The prescribed burn will comply with requirements of the Bay Area Air Quality Management District.

About Sonoma County Regional Parks

Sonoma County Regional Parks includes 56 parks, beaches, and trails. Regional Parks’ mission is to create healthy communities and contribute to the county’s economic vitality by acquiring, developing, managing, maintaining parks. Regional Parks preserves natural and cultural resources and offers opportunities for recreation and education that enhance the quality of life and well-being of residents and visitors.

About Sonoma Valley Wildlands Collaborative

The Sonoma Valley Wildlands Collaborative is a group of six conservation organizations and land management agencies: Audubon Canyon Ranch, California State Parks, Sonoma County Ag + Open Space, Sonoma County Regional Parks, Sonoma Land Trust, and Sonoma Mountain Ranch Preservation Foundation. Collaborative members manage approximately 18,000 acres of protected lands and are working together to coordinate fire and vegetation management. Strategies include controlled burns, targeted thinning and reduction of ladder fuels, installation of shaded fuel breaks, and clearing vegetation along roadways.