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The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection's San Mateo-Santa Cruz Unit (CAL FIRE CZU) plans to burn 250 acres of brush and brush this week, weather permitting, on private property in the San Gregorio and Pomponio areas of coastal San Mateo County.
“We are looking to reduce vegetative fuels and encourage coastal prairie habitat. A small portion of this burn is for maintenance of a previously burned parcel, but most of the area has not burned in at least the last 50 years,” said Sarah Collamer, San Mateo County Burn Manager.
The official said these burns are strategically located on ridges north of the city of Pescadero and would help protect the city during a northerly wind event.
The agency said in a statement that it will have significant firefighting resources on the scene, including a bulldozer, several crews, a helicopter and numerous fire trucks and water dispensers.
This prescribed burn was planned as part of broader strategic efforts to protect the local community and nearby natural resources.
These plans, the agency said, are based on input from community and local stakeholders and represent a cooperative effort with a variety of partners throughout the project.
In that regard, he noted that this project adds to the work underway throughout the state and brings California one step closer to meeting or exceeding the state's fuel reduction goals directed by the California Fire Plan and the California Forest Resilience and Wildfire Action Plan.
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