The Marin County Fire Department in cooperation with California State Parks is planning to conduct pile burning operations at Mount Tamalpais State Park, beginning Tuesday, April 11, or as soon as conditions permit and continuing for two to three days from the start of pile ignitions. Burns may take place on an additional two to three days the following week depending on conditions and the speed at which work progresses.
These pile burns are part of decades of collaborative stewardship work between Marin County Fire Department and California State Parks, with multiple benefits in a strategic location along the park boundary at Panoramic Highway. The work is intended to preserve the Park’s scenic and regionally significant grasslands, coastal scrublands, and the animals that depend on them, and reduces the threat of wildfire to adjacent communities. The material being burned consists of woody vegetation that was thinned to meet these goals by Marin County Fire Department staff in coordination with State Parks, with funding from the Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority.
Pile burns are planned on designated open burn days as determined by the Bay Area Air Quality Management District in order to minimize the smoke impacts on surrounding communities. All burning depends on weather and air quality conditions that are favorable for smoke dispersal. If the conditions, such as weather or staffing are not conducive for burning, the burns will be rescheduled.
Portions of the Panoramic, Canopy View and Redwood trails may be temporarily closed on the day of pile burns. People traveling near the island and in adjacent communities in Southern Marin may see smoke from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on the day of the burns, with some minimal smoke produced for up to two to three days following ignitions. In the event you smell smoke, officials urge you to take precautions and use common sense to reduce any harmful health effects by limiting outdoor activities. Prescribed burning and fuel reduction efforts produce significantly less smoke than wildfire does.
Please use extreme caution while recreating near prescribed fire operations due to fire personnel and equipment in the area.
