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Crime & Safety

Two Prescribed Burns Set For Arastradero Preserve Thursday

Highway 280 commuters and nearby residents may see a smoke column blowing over Highway 280 during the burns.

Written by Rob Klindt

As the summer fires season nears, local fire department officials are planning two prescribed burns Thursday, May 30 in the Enid W. Pearson Arastradero Preserve. 

Both burns will start around 9 a.m. and cover between seven and nine acres and are being conducted to help mitigate any potential fires.  Palo Alto Fire Department will conduct the burns with assistance from other City of Palo Alto Departments, CalFire and other Santa Clara County fire departments.

Commuters and Palo Alto should anticipate a smoke column blowing over Interstate Highway 280 during the burns. There is no need to evacuate the area; however, Palo Alto Fire Department recommends that people stay indoors and avoid the area from Alpine Road to Page Mill Road and I-280 to Skyline Boulevard on Thursday. 

In a Twitter posting on Wednesday, Palo Alto Police emphasized that it’s not necessary for people to call 911 if they see smoke from the prescribed burn over I-280. 

As required, Palo Alto has submitted a smoke abatement plan and is conducting the burn at a time that will minimize the effects of the smoke to the area. The smoke is expected to dissipate quickly as the fuel should burn fast and as clean as possible at this time of year. 

A statement released by Chris Woodard, Battalion Chief at the Palo Alto Fire Department, described prescribed burns as one of the most effective tools for restoring healthy ecosystems and meeting desired resource outcomes, while avoiding the environmental damage that can be caused by an unplanned wild land fire. 

This type of managed fire is used to reduce wildfire risks and benefit natural resources by thinning overgrown vegetation. A prescribed fire is only allowed under specific conditions, depending upon available resources, time of year, weather and desired results. 

It is a mitigation effort used to prevent fires like the Oakland Hills Fire of 1991 or the Liddecoat Fire of 1984. 

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