Prescribed Burning
NOTICE: Prescribed burn notification form is located at the bottom of this page.
**Upcoming burns: Small Pile Burn at Laufenburg Ranch 12/9| Small Thatch Burn at Pitkin Marsh 12/10 | Pile Burn at Live Oaks Ranch 12/11**
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California 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.
Prescribed fire is one of the best tools we have to restore the historic balance.
Prescribed fires are 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, which is often referred to as a prescribed burn or a controlled burn.
Good Fire is one way we are restoring our natural ecosystems.
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.
It is important to keep our community informed. 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 local air quality is poor.
If you would like to receive updates in advance of future prescribed burns, please sign up here:
| Region | Nearest Town | Preserve |
| Sonoma Valley | Glen Ellen, Kenwood | Glen Oaks Ranch, Sonoma Mountain Vernal Pools |
| Knight’s 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 |
Recieve smoke notifications in your inbox.
Sign up to receive smoke notifications for prescribed burns conducted on Sonoma Land Trust properties.
Please check your inbox for a confirmation email from “Sonoma Land Trust”. If you do not see the message, it may be in your junk or spam folder.
Prescribed burn activities are subject to change due to factors that could make the burn unsuccessful, such as weather conditions. Planned burns may be delayed or canceled within hours of the ignition time. For the most up-to-date information, please consider subscribing to the Watch Duty app, which reports prescribed fire and other fire activity.
For more information about how prescribed fire is part of our Strategic Plan and Living With Wildfire Strategy, read our strategic plan here.