Cal Fire conducting prescribed burn near Santa Margarita today
Burn will target invasive yellow star thistle and reduce wildfire fuels
– Cal Fire’s San Luis Obispo Unit, in cooperation with private landowners and the San Luis Obispo County Air Pollution Control District, plans to conduct the Rinconada Prescribed Burn near Santa Margarita on Wednesday, July 8, weather and air quality conditions permitting.
The prescribed burn is part of an ongoing vegetation management effort targeting yellow star thistle, an invasive plant species. According to Cal Fire, conducting prescribed fire before the plant sets seed helps reduce its spread, deplete the soil seed bank, and promote the recovery of native grasses and other vegetation.
The project is also intended to reduce wildfire fuels and decrease the potential for future wildfire ignition and spread.
Smoke may be visible throughout the Santa Margarita area during the burn, including along Highway 58, Pozo Road, and potentially Highway 101. Motorists are encouraged to use caution when traveling through the area because fire personnel and equipment may be operating near roadways.
The project is expected to use approximately four fire engines and two hand crews. Crews will conduct burning operations under environmental guidelines and only on permissive burn days approved by the San Luis Obispo County Air Pollution Control District.
Residents and visitors may see smoke during the burn window as a result of the planned fire operation.
For more information about prescribed fire and vegetation management, visit ReadyForWildfire.org.
