The California Fire Department, California State Parks Department, has scheduled two prescribed burns for Oct. 28-29 near Sonoma Valley.

Smoke warnings have been issued ahead of two prescribed burns in Sonoma County this week, according to city officials and Cal Fire.

First prescribed burn in Tryon-Annadel State Park began at 9 a.m. on October 28 and will end at approximately 6 p.m., with the California State Parks Department working in tandem with the Cal Fire Sonoma-Lake Napa, Santa Rosa and Sonoma County fire departments, and members of the organization Sonoma Valley Wildlands Collaborative.

Community members were informed of the planned fire on social media. Next door and through an email list.

A number of trails in the park near the fire, including sections of Marsh Ridge and Pig Flat Trail, will be closed for approximately one to three days during and immediately after the fire to ensure the safety of the public following the fire. The California State Parks Department encourages visitors to adhere to posted closure signs and follow all directions from park personnel or California Fire Marshals.

About 70 acres at Tryon-Annadel State Park will be burned Monday as part of a Department of State Parks program. prescribed recording program; this same area burned with high intensity during Nuns fire 2017.

On Tuesday, October 29th, the Sonoma Valley Fire District will hold second prescribed burn weeks on approximately 18 acres of private property off Hawks Baird Road near Grove Street in the George Ranch area. This fire is part of ongoing fire suppression efforts to create a fire zone between Grove Street and the George Ranch area.

Tuesday’s fire is expected to last from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., with smoke likely to be visible throughout the day, especially near Highway 12 and Arnold Drive in Sonoma. Because the fire will be closely monitored, community members are asked not to call 911 to report smoke or flames in the area.

As part of the prescribed burning operation, a specialized red and black helicopter was deployed from Sonoma County Fire District will be on scene with a bucket of water to provide air support and to practice response techniques. Crews will remain on site to monitor the fire and extinguish it until it is completely extinguished.

The Department of State Parks and the California Fire Department recommend that people who may be particularly sensitive to changes in air quality and smokers, such as children, the elderly or people with difficulty breathing, stay inside if possible or consider using air filters if necessary .

Prescribed fires, or burns, are methods used by state and county governments to reduce the risk and intensity of potential wildfires by intentionally burning areas with large amounts of vegetation or conditions that may increase the likelihood or size of future fires. Prescribed fires also produce less smoke than wildfires.

Prescribed fires are planned and coordinated with the Bay Area Air Quality Management District to reduce any potential smoke or air quality disturbances and ensure that a prescribed fire can be safely controlled.

Residents will be able to keep up to date with news about fires using Watch Duty app or following California firefighter LNU on X, formerly known as Twitter.

You can reach Staff Writer Isabel Beer at 707-933-2734 or [email protected]. On X (Twitter) @IsabelSongBeer