PRESCRIBED BURNS
Good fire is one of our best tools for restoring historic ecological balance and building resilience against future threats.
Prescribed Burn Scheduled
A prescribed burn is scheduled for March 5-6 in the name of the preserve. Fill out this form to be notified of smoke alerts in your region.
For the good of the land
California’s ecosystems evolved with regular fire. Many of Sonoma County’s most treasured landscapes—like oak woodlands and coastal grasslands—were maintained by fires set by Indigenous peoples for millennia, as well as natural lightning fires. For the last century, we have adopted a “full suppression policy,” treating all fire as bad. But in the absence of good fire, forests become dense and overgrown, and ecological communities are more vulnerable to catastrophic wildfires. Sonoma Land Trust is using prescribed fire and targeted forest thinning in tandem as nature-based tools to restore resilience to the land.
What is good fire?
Prescribed burns, also called good fire, are the intentional burning planned under a specific set of environmental conditions that collectively constitute a prescription. These conditions typically include temperature, wind, fuel moisture, and humidity, but seasonality and other factors may be included. The prescription is developed to meet specific goals and objectives that are developed by qualified professionals who possess deep knowledge of fire behavior and local ecology. It must be followed to safely and effectively conduct the prescribed fire operation.
What residents need to know
Sonoma Land Trust strives to keep the community informed about prescribed fire and smoke. While some smoke is released from prescribed burning, we have many measures in place to mitigate and minimize smoke exposure and associated negative impacts on our surrounding communities.
Before each burn, we display roadside signage notifications, contact adjacent neighbors, post alerts on social media and on the Watch Duty app, and issue press releases with details and maps.
Children, older adults, and those with respiratory conditions should consider limiting outdoor activities and using an air filter at home if air quality is poor.
Be notified of future prescribed burns
To receive updates in advance about prescribed burns in your region, please submit the form below.
Find Your Region
| Region | Nearest Town | Preserve |
|---|---|---|
| Sonoma Valley | Glen Ellen, Kenwood | Glen Oaks Ranch, Sonoma Mountain Vernal Pools |
| Knights Valley | Kellogg, Calistoga | Laufenburg Ranch, Live Oaks Ranch |
| Sonoma Baylands | Schellville, Sears Point | Sears Point Ranch, Camp 4 |
| North Coast | Jenner, Cazadero, Bodega | Pole, Mountain, Little Black Mountain, Estero Americano |
| Pitkin Marsh | Graton | Lower Pitkin Marsh |