CAMARILLO — The Ventura County Fire Department (VCFD), in cooperation with the Ventura County Prescribed Burn Association (VCPBA), the Ojai Valley Land Conservancy (OVLC), University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) and the Ventura County Air Pollution Control District (APCD) will be conducting prescribed burns on two adjacent properties, June 19, at OVLC’s Ventura River Steelhead Preserve and the privately owned Birdsong Ranch (formerly Nye Ranch). Both properties are located off Santa Ana Road in Casitas Springs and the burns will occur on approximately 40 acres of grassland currently inundated with non-native and noxious weed species.
These prescribed fires are being conducted to achieve multiple objectives. The first is to reduce fuel loads of fire-prone, non-native grasses. The second is to use these carefully planned burns to train project partners on the use of prescribed fire to achieve ecological management objectives. In this case, the burn is timed to reduce yellow starthistle (Centaurea solstitialis), a California Invasive Plant Council listed noxious weed. OVLC is hosting the prescribed burn in a continuing effort to reduce non-native noxious weeds and restore native habitats in the Ojai Valley.
Depending on specific weather conditions that day, residents in the area may see smoke. VCFD resources will be on scene to conduct the burn, monitor its progress, and provide oversight of all activities. APCD staff will also be available to evaluate and monitor burn and environmental conditions to ensure acceptable air quality standards are maintained.
If you see smoke in the area on this day, please do not report this scheduled incident. This will ensure VCFD dispatch is available to accept calls that are true emergencies. However, if you would like additional information regarding the event, please call 805-764-5154.
PO Box 147 – 3380 Somis Road, Somis, California 93066 – 805-764-5130 www.vcrcd.org
