Audubon Canyon Ranch and Sonoma Land Trust have announced a series of prescribed burns in Sonoma Valley and Calistoga to reduce wildfire risks and support native habitats. The burns will take place from June 13 to June 27, covering multiple properties in the region.
Schedule and Locations:
- June 13–14: Bouverie Preserve, 13815 Sonoma Highway, Glen Ellen – 40 acres
- June 18: Grove Street and Hawks Beard Road, Sonoma – 25 acres
- June 19: Sonoma Mountain Vernal Pools Preserve, 8301 Bennett Valley Road, Glen Ellen – 18 acres
- June 21: Mitsui Ranch Preserve, 3124 Sonoma Mountain Road, Petaluma – 44 acres
- June 27: Laufenburg Ranch, 17104 Spencer Lane, Calistoga – 10 acres
The burns will commence at 8 a.m. and conclude around 5 p.m. each day, with smoke potentially visible in the areas of Kenwood, Glen Ellen, Sonoma, and Calistoga. These activities, which include blacklining, broadcast burning, and spot-fire training, are critical to land management strategies and are aimed at enhancing wildfire resilience and native habitat health. Please note that these burns may be rescheduled based on weather conditions.
Impact on Travelers and Residents: Travelers along Sonoma Highway 12 and Highway 128 may experience smoke and observe prescribed fire activities. Residents are advised not to call emergency services to report smoke during these permitted burns.
Health Advisory: Residents, particularly children, older adults, and those with respiratory conditions, should consider limiting outdoor activities if air quality is poor. Updates on the prescribed burns can be followed via the Watch Duty app and social media handles @fire.forward, @auduboncanyonranch, and @sonomalandtrust. Notifications can also be received by signing up at egret.org/smoke-alert/.
About the Organizations:
- Audubon Canyon Ranch: A non-profit dedicated to environmental conservation and education since 1960. Their Fire Forward program focuses on building prescribed fire and ecosystem stewardship capacity.
- Sonoma Land Trust: An organization committed to conserving and restoring land for climate resilience and equitable outdoor access, having protected over 57,000 acres since 1976.
These efforts are part of a broader stewardship initiative by the Sonoma Valley Wildlands Collaborative, which includes managing 18,000 acres to build resilience against wildfires and support native ecosystems.
For more information, visit Audubon Canyon Ranch and Sonoma Land Trust.