Camp Pendleton Prescribed Burns Start Today Through June 11

OCEANSIDE, CA — The Camp Pendleton Fire Department continues plans for prescribed burns on base that will produce smoke visible beginning today and Friday (June 3-4) as well as all next week from June 7-11.

Camp Pendleton officials were hard at work protecting the base and its environment over Memorial weekend by conducting prescribed burns to clear out dense vegetation and to help endangered wildlife.

Residents of Oceanside and the surrounding communities most likely saw smoke rising over the hills and should expect more smoke over the coming week. The burn will go from approximately 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. as the base attempts to prevent or control the spread of wildfires during the upcoming fire season.

Camp Pendleton Fire Department works with the Environmental Security office and keeps the prescribed fires on a four to five year rotation.

“The kangaroo rat is listed on the endangered species list and falls under the Endangered Species Act,” said Alisa Zych, the resource management branch head for Environmental Security. “All the annual non-native grasses that were created over the years makes it difficult for this species to thrive.”

The fire department burned about 50 acres of dense vegetation to protect and increase the habit of the Kangaroo mouse. The fire department will burn another 600 acres this weekend to help the Pacific pocket mouse habitat.

The prescribed burns will return tomorrow and Friday (June 3-4) as well as all next week (June 7-11). Smoke is to be expected. https://t.co/j7zJvmKyXr
— Camp Pendleton (@MCIWPendletonCA) June 3, 2021

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