A Prescribed Burn Is Taking Place At Angel Island This Week. Here's What To Know

BERKELEY, CA — A smoky stench may fill parts of the Bay Area through Wednesday as fire crews conduct a prescribed burn at Angel Island State Park, officials said.

The 260-acre prescribed burn at Angel Island began on Sept. 8, but crews did not finish after conversations with the Bay Area Air Quality Management District, California State Park officials said.

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The burn was delayed until Tuesday and will continue at least through Wednesday, state park officials said.

"We were able to burn 62 acres on the island with the fuels reduction that we've accomplished, reducing the chance of a catastrophic fire on the island," Division Chief Sean Jerry, CAL FIRE Sonoma Lake Napa Unit, said.

State park officials urged community members to avoid calling 911 to report smoke coming from the island as it may overwhelm emergency dispatchers.

"Angel Island is the largest island in San Francisco Bay at one square mile and is visible from many surrounding Bay Area communities," park officials said. "Many Bay Area residents are likely to see smoke from the burns from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on burn days, and some smoke may also be visible up to three days following ignitions."

Berkeley police warned community members on Tuesday that they may smell smoke during these burn days.

"If you see actual flames or a column of smoke in your area, please report it by calling 911," police said.

Angel Island State Park is open during burn days. But the Ida Trail, Sunset Trail, the park fire road and perimeter roads may be closed on and after the days when prescribed fires happen, officials said.

State Parks intentionally plan controlled fires in grassy areas to reduce the risks of environmental hazards, such as wildfires.

"Prescribed burns help State Parks by promoting habitat improvement and reducing fuel loads that have accumulated in the absence of historically frequent, low-intensity fires," state park officials said. "All burning is dependent on wildfire activity, resource availability, weather conditions, predicted smoke movement and fuel moisture."

Those conditions include wind speed, direction, fuel moisture, humidity and temperature, officials said.

Officials work closely with the Bay Area Air Quality Management District to ensure the burns don't pose risks to surrounding communities' air quality.

"We work closely with the Air Quality Management District, and we really look for those small windows that have the greatest ability to disperse the smoke in the least impactful manner," Division Chief Graham Groneman, Marin County Fire Department, said.