California State Parks will be burning piles created by park volunteers in Big Basin Redwoods State Park and Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park in Santa Cruz County.
An estimated 52 piles will be burned throughout the Redwood Loop Trail in Big Basin Redwoods State Park on Saturday, Jan. 17. About 80 piles will be burned at Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park along the Redwood Grove Loop Trail on Saturday, Jan. 31.
Ignitions are scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. on both days. No trails will be closed and additional Docents will be available for interpretation on the day of the planned burns.
Officials noted that the pile burning will be monitored until piles are cold and extinguished, and the work will be dependent on dry weather and conditions that will facilitate smoke dispersal.
Smoke may be visible in the vicinity of the parks in the Santa Cruz Mountains during the pile burning. Monitoring and patrol will occur throughout this period and extend into the evening and weekend as required.
If conditions are not conducive for burning, burns will be rescheduled. These burns are respectively permitted, planned and coordinated with the Monterey Bay Air Quality Management District and in order to minimize smoke impacts to surrounding communities.
Pile burning in both Big Basin and Henry Cowell is part of a continuing effort for State Parks to reduce fuel loads around old growth redwood habitats to foster forest health. The projects improve emergency access, foster forest health and enhance biodiversity.
For more information, call the Santa Cruz District prescribed burns hotline at 831-216-6459 or email Sa***********************@******ca.gov.
