NORTH COAST, Calif. — Cal Fire Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit — in collaboration with Sonoma County Regional Parks, the North Sonoma Coast Fire Protection District and the South Coast Fire Protection District in Mendocino County — is planning to conduct pile burns at Gualala Point Regional Park on Aug. 24 to take advantage of cool coastal conditions.

Pile burning will only be conducted during cool weather conditions and with ample fire-suppression resources available at the site.

The fire agencies will provide fire engines and crews to manage the burning process throughout the day, and Regional Parks staff will work in collaboration with the fire agencies.

To reduce smoke and air pollution, we are following best management practices. The burn piles have been cured over several months, reducing the moisture content of the woody material and providing the conditions for a more complete and efficient burn.

The upcoming pile burning at Gualala Regional Park is a continuation of fuels reduction work that began earlier this year with the California Conservation Corps providing the workforce to thin vegetation along the forested windrows and stack the material into burn piles.

This work will help reduce wildfire severity by thinning vegetation to minimize surface and ladder fuels and help protect the remaining trees and adjacent communities from wildfire.

It will also help build and foster collaboration between Parks and fire agency personnel.

For more information about fire safety or controlled burning and its benefits, visit the Cal Fire website at www.fire.ca.gov or call your local Cal Fire facility.