Body of News Release
The following is a joint news release from the Marin County Fire Department and California State Parks.
MARIN COUNTY, CA — Two weeks after a prescribed burn at Angel Island State Park was paused, California State Parks, in partnership with CAL FIRE and the Marin County Fire Department, plan to continue the burn as early as Wednesday, September 23, to Thursday, September 24.
Burn dates will depend on wildfire activity, resource availability, weather conditions, predicted smoke movement and fuel moisture. Community members are asked to refrain from calling 911 to report smoke from Angel Island.
State Parks started the prescribed burn on Angel Island on September 8 but did not finish the planned 260-acre burn following discussions with the Bay Area Air Quality Management District. These prescribed burns at Angel Island are specifically aimed at reducing fuel loads in grasslands and coastal scrub on the island and are supported by Proposition 4 (2024 Climate Bond). State Parks uses prescribed fire on a rotational basis as a healthy component of the ecosystem. Prescribed burns help reduce dangerous fuel loads throughout wildland areas.
The previous Angel Island burn accomplished several key objectives outlined in the plan.
“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,” said Division Chief Sean Jerry, CAL FIRE Sonoma Lake Napa Unit.
Angel Island is the largest island in San Francisco Bay at one square mile and is visible from many surrounding Bay Area communities. Many Bay Area residents are likely to see smoke from the burns from 9 AM to 6 PM on burn days, and some smoke may also be visible up to three days following ignitions.
Prescribed burns are planned and coordinated with the Bay Area Air Quality Management District to minimize smoke impacts on surrounding communities. All burning depends on weather and air conditions that are favorable for smoke dispersal. If conditions are not conducive, the burn will be rescheduled.
“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,” said Division Chief Graham Groneman, Marin County Fire Department.
“As always, we will be doing this with our neighbors and communities in mind,” said Senior Environmental Scientist Naftali Moed, California State Parks.
Angel Island State Park will remain open during burn days. However, some trails and roads near the burn area, including portions of the Ida Trail, Sunset Trail, and the park’s fire and perimeter roads, will be closed for one to three days during and immediately after the burn. Access to the summit of Mount Livermore will not be permitted on some burn days as well.
State Parks asks that visitors adhere to posted closure signage and any directions from park staff or fire personnel. Please use extreme caution when recreating near prescribed fire operations due to fire personnel and equipment in the area. In the unlikely event you smell smoke, officials urge you to take precautions and use common sense to reduce any harmful health effects by limiting time spent in smoky areas.
To stay up to date on the status of this burn, please check the Angel Island State Park webpage, Facebook I Instagram.