Cal Fire burning west of Ukiah
The smoke hanging over Ukiah Monday afternoon was created by the first of many controlled burns scheduled by Cal Fire this week.
The Mendocino Unit of Cal Fire announced that it plans to conduct such burns all week until Friday, April 16, between the hours of 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. as long as “weather and air quality conditions permit.” Residents can expect to see smoke and aircraft in the area during the burns.
Cal Fire described the location of the controlled burns as on “privately owned land approximately six miles west of the city of Ukiah, between Low Gap Road and Robinson Creek Road.”
The burns are part of the agency’s “Vegetation Management Program,” designed to reduce the severity of wildfires by reducing the amount of fuel available.
“(Each) burn will be conducted under very tight restrictions for the personal safety of firefighters and area residents,” the agency reported in a press release. “If there are any indications that a burn cannot be conducted in a safe manner, such as high winds or local fire activity, the burn will be canceled.”