Prescribed Burns Planned Across Cleveland National Forest

SAN DIEGO, CA — Cleveland National Forest officials plan to begin prescribed burns this week to reduce wildfire risks, with operations expected to continue through fall and into spring as weather conditions allow.

The U.S. Forest Service aims to burn an estimated 4,000 acres across the forest, which spans portions of San Diego, Riverside and Orange counties.

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The controlled burns are intended to reduce overgrown vegetation and help protect communities, infrastructure and natural resources from wildfires, according to forest officials.

Planned burn locations include:

• Descanso Ranger District: Mount Laguna, Pine Valley, Bear Valley, Pine Creek and areas near Guatay, Campo and Descanso.
• Palomar Ranger District: Areas in and around Palomar Mountain, Aguanga, Warner Springs and Oak Grove.
• Trabuco Ranger District: Pleasants Peak, North Sierra Peak, Rancho Capistrano and Rancho Carrillo.

"While high-severity wildfires pose extreme risk to forest ecosystems, the low to moderate-intensity fires, the kind we use with prescribed burns, can play a key role in keeping those same ecosystems healthy by reducing understory density and returning nutrients to the soil," said Scott Grasmick, the forest's deputy fire chief for prescribed fire, fuels and prevention.

Officials said burns will take place only when weather conditions are favorable, with crews evaluating temperature, humidity, wind, vegetation moisture and smoke conditions before each operation.

Residents may see or smell smoke, and some areas near burn sites may be temporarily closed to the public for several days.

Motorists are advised to watch for warning signs, slow down and turn on their headlights when encountering smoke on roadways.

The Forest Service said scheduled burns may be canceled if conditions become unfavorable.