[SCE] PRESCRIBED BURN May 4, 2019

[Jenner Headlands Preserve]

*PRESCRIBED BURN PLANNED AT JENNER HEADLANDS*



*St. Helena *– The Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE),
Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit plans to conduct a prescribed burn at The Jenner
Headlands near Pole Mountain on Saturday, May 4, 2019. The Preserve is land
held and managed by The Wildlands Conservancy, and is located just north of
the Russian River Estuary near Jenner, CA. The anticipated time for the
prescribed burn is from 9:00 a.m. and continue throughout the afternoon.



The Preserve created a shaded fuel break along a trending ridgetop through
the property using hand crews and masticators to remove ladder fuel
vegetation. The resulting over story is dominated by Douglas-fir, tanoak
and madrone with scattered large redwood trees; brush and trees have begun
to sprout in the understory. The prescribed burn will maintain the
effectiveness of the fuel break by consuming these small sprouts and the
masticated material on the ground with a low-intensity fire. The break is
located on top of a strategically important ridge for containing wildland
fires. The ridge was used to contain the Southern Portion of the 1978
Creighton Ridge Fire. The Creighton Ridge fire burned over 10,000 acres of
forest land before it was contained.



Prescribed vegetation management burns are carefully planned and must meet
strict criteria for ecological benefit, weather parameters, smoke
management, and fire safety guidelines. When all conditions are met,
trained wildland firefighters conduct the burn, while monitoring the set
criteria, fire behavior, and designated fire control lines. The prescribed
burn will comply with requirements of the Northern Sonoma County Air
Pollution Control District; the District can be contacted at (707)
433-5911.



Benefits of low-intensity fire in the natural environment include:



*Cleansing of wildland debris. *Excessive dead and down branches, brush,
and small trees are burned, converting fuels that are hazards in the summer
into rich soil nutrients.



*Controlling invasive species. *Invasive species such as medusahead and
yellow starthistle can be effectively controlled using prescribed fire,
allowing native grass species to recolonize their natural habitat. Native
grasses are important food and habitat for a wide range of animals.

*Ecosystem Health. *Low intensity fire helps eliminate and control diseased
plants and trees.



*New Growth. *Prescribed burning encourages the healthy growth of new
plants, especially those that are dependent on fire for renewal or seed
dispersion.



*Reduced opportunity for destructive fires*. Prescribed burns can decrease
the size and frequency of large, uncontrolled destructive wildfires.