California Prescribed Burns Bring Smoke, More Planned

Prescribed burns in Northern California are producing or expected to produce visible smoke. Near Hood Mountain in eastern Santa Rosa, a six-acre burn on Oct. 14 aims to restore ecosystem health and reduce wildfire risk; smoke may linger for up to 10 hours, and people with respiratory sensitivities, children and older adults are advised to avoid nearby outdoor activity. Smoke from an 87-acre burn at Carrington Coast Ranch near Bodega Bay drifted inland into Sonoma County after overnight weather trapped it close to the ground, while a separate 600-acre fuel-reduction burn near Lake Pardee is scheduled for Oct. 15–16, with smoke potentially visible across nearby communities and highways.