Controlled burn starts today in Cambria

Vegetation pile burns start today under the supervision of Cal Fire in partnership with the San Luis Obispo County Air Pollution Control District throughout Cambria. 

This move is part of a hazardous fuel reduction project initiated by Cal Fire and the San Luis Obispo County Fire Safe Council over the past several years, which involved the removal of overgrown vegetation and flammable invasive plants.

As a result of the project, approximately 150 piles of cut vegetation now require burning. Cal Fire has planned to conduct the burning operations through the spring of 2023, as weather and conditions permit. 

The burning may cause visible smoke, but Cal Fire Battalion Chief Luke Bourgault has assured the community that the burning will be carried out on multiple days with prescribed conditions to minimize smoke impact on Cambria.

During all burn operations, Cal Fire will have fire engines on-site to ensure safety, and burning will only proceed if the conditions are within the established weather and resource parameters. In case of unsuitable conditions, burning will be suspended until an appropriate time.