California State Parks will host the third Central Coast Good Fire Fair and demonstration burn Saturday, Oct. 10, at Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park.
The all-day event will be held in the main parking lot near the park’s main entrance off Highway 9. The fair will explore the role of fire in California ecosystems and highlight how organizations including California State Parks, Cal Fire, Indigenous groups and the Central Coast Prescribed Burn Association use fire on the landscape.
“Community members are invited to see a live prescribed burn in an old growth redwood grove, and learn about how coastal ecosystems depend on fire,” said event co-organizer David Benterou, UC ANR Fire Network researcher for Santa Cruz, Santa Clara, Monterey and San Benito counties.
The family-friendly event will include fire ecology education, live demonstrations and cultural presentations focused on the use of “good fire” to support ecosystem health and community resilience as wildfire risks increase.
If conditions permit, the demonstration burn will take place near the Redwood Grove Loop by the main parking lot. The live burn is expected between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., depending on weather and air quality conditions.
The day will begin at 10 a.m. with opening remarks from Brian Woodward, UC Cooperative Extension regional forest adviser for the Santa Cruz Mountains. Live fire behavior demonstrations will follow at 10:15 a.m., led by Jared Childress and Spence Klinefelter of the Central Coast Prescribed Burn Association.
From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., State Parks experts will lead a controlled burn demonstration in the redwood forest, preceded by a tribal blessing. All burning is dependent on suitable conditions.
Other activities include a 12:30 p.m. walk through the redwoods led by State Parks interpreter Emily Tekler, beginning in front of the visitor center, and a 1 p.m. presentation on using fire to manage rangelands with Fadyazi Mashiri, UC ANR livestock and natural resources adviser for San Benito, Santa Cruz and Monterey counties.
At 1:30 p.m., the Santa Cruz Fire Safe Council and State Parks will offer a home-hardening demonstration. A campfire safety demonstration led by State Parks volunteers will follow at 2 p.m., with the event concluding at 2:30 p.m. with a closing address, trivia and a raffle.
Children can participate in a kid zone throughout the day featuring such activities as a treasure hunt and quizzes focused on fire safety.
The event will also feature booths from tribal organizations, fire agencies, conservation groups, research institutions and other organizations involved in fire management and natural resource protection. Food trucks will be available.
The event is free, while day-use parking is $10. The fair is being held in cooperation with the UC ANR Fire Network and UC Cooperative Extension Mountain Forests Program.
The prescribed burn is part of State Parks’ vegetation management program and is intended to reduce hazardous fuels, improve wildlife habitat and provide other ecological benefits. Prescribed fire can remove accumulated fuels, restore nutrients to the soil and reduce the potential for catastrophic wildfires.
The burn is permitted, planned and coordinated with the Monterey Bay Air Quality Management District to minimize smoke impacts on surrounding communities. Burning will occur only when weather and air quality conditions are favorable for smoke dispersal.
If conditions are not suitable, the demonstration burn will not take place. Smoke impacts may occur if the burn proceeds, officials said.
Prescribed burns produce significantly less smoke than wildfires. Officials recommend avoiding strenuous outdoor activity and remaining indoors as much as possible if smoke is present, particularly for children, older adults and people with respiratory or heart conditions.
For more information, call the Santa Cruz District prescribed burns hotline at 831-216-6459 or email Sa***********************@******ca.gov. Accommodation requests or other questions can be directed to Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park at 831-335-4598.
