Prescribed Burn Planned On Healdsburg Ridge, Open Space Preserve

HEALDSBURG, CA — A prescribed burn is planned Saturday at the Healdsburg Ridge Open Space Preserve, the Healdsburg Fire Department announced. The burn is to prepare for fire season by reducing fuels in collaboration with Ag & Open Space, LandPaths, CAL FIRE, PCI, Northern Sonoma County Air Pollution Control District and Healdsburg Community Services.

At around 7:30 a.m., the prescribed burn is to be initiated on approximately 3 acres on the southeast side of the Healdsburg Ridge Open Space Preserve.

"We — along with the Northern Sonoma Fire Protection District, the Dry Creek Rancheria Fire District, the Sonoma County Fire Protection District, and the Geyserville Fuels Management Crew — will burn the vegetation, which is predominately invasive species of grass to reduce the fire fuel," Healdsburg Fire Marshal/Division Chief Linda Collister said Wednesday.

Community members may see smoke over the Healdsburg Ridge from the prescribed burn, and the recent rains may intensify the smoke column because of the steam that will be generated from the wet grass, Collister said.

To ensure the public's safety during the burn, the Healdsburg Ridge Open Space Preserve is to remain closed Saturday until the fire is out and the area is deemed safe — which should be by early afternoon, according to HFD.

Collister noted that because it is birding season, a bird survey was completed ahead of the planned blaze.

"One nest was found near the burn area, and firefighters will protect it," Collister said.

Anyone with questions about the prescribed burn may contact Collister at 707-431-3125.