Point Reyes Light- September 24, 1998
Controlled burn smokes out Tomales Bay
The Tomales Bay area filled with smoke Wednesday afternoon as National Seashore staff conducted a controlled burn on 60 acres in the Limantour Beach area.
Park Service fire specialists carefully monitored the fire, which never posed any threat to residents of Inverness or Inverness Park, said Park Assistant Supt. Frank Dean Wednesday evening.
"It was unfortunate for the community that the wind was blowing south today. The smoke went over the residential area, rather than out to sea," Dean said.
"But it was definitely a successful burn, and the firefighters reduced the fuel load out there. They lit the fire off at 11 a.m. today, and finished about 5:30 p.m. ," Dean said.
"They're doing an incremental reduction of fuel loads in order to avoid a catastrophic wildfire like the Vision Fire of October 1995."
The fires not only reduce fast-burning foliage, they remove invasive, non-native plants, such as Scotch broom. Selective burning also provides other ecological benefits, such as improved wildlife habitat, the National Seashore said.
Park staff will oversee another controlled burn next week in Stinson Beach above Panoramic Highway. And if weather conditions permit, rangers will conduct a controlled burn on the west side of Highway 1 between Five Brooks Stables and Dogtown in the Olema Valley, Dean said.
Other burns are planned for November on Bolinas Ridge and the west side of Mount Vision, Dean said.