A prescribed burn scheduled to begin on Jan. 12 in the Los Padres National Forest has been postponed because of unfavorable weather conditions, according to U.S. Forest Service personnel.
The burn was supposed to cover 5,835 acres along Pine Canyon Road near Horseshoe Spring Campground. District Ranger Kathleen Phelps told the Sun, however, that recent high temperatures and high atmospheric pressure would prevent smoke from the fire from rising.
“The smoke stays settled, and the east winds would blow it right into Santa Maria and Orcutt,” Phelps said.
The U.S. Forest Service is planning to conduct the burn as soon as weather conditions allow to reduce hazardous fuels, lessen the impacts of future wildfires in the area, improve wildlife habitat, and enhance and protect the Lower Cuyama River watershed.
For more information, call the Santa Lucia Ranger Station at 925-9538.
This article appears in Jan 15-22, 2009.
