San Mateo County residents may see smoke on Tuesday, Oct. 28, as CAL FIRE’s San Mateo-Santa Cruz Unit and the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission conduct a prescribed burn near Interstate 280 in Belmont.
The one-day burn will cover about 52 acres between I-280 and St. James Road, targeting dense coyote brush and poison oak in steep terrain. Smoke may be visible from the I-280 and Highway 92 corridor, as well as from San Carlos, Hillsborough, Belmont, San Mateo, Redwood City, Woodside and nearby neighborhoods.
“This strategically planned fuel reduction project targets dense vegetation, addressing an area of frequent fire activity along I-280,” CAL FIRE Burn Boss Sarah Collamer said in a press release. “Given the steep, inaccessible terrain of the area, prescribed fire is not merely an option, but the most strategic and impactful method to create a defensible space for nearby communities.”
Multiple wildland fire engines, hand crews, a bulldozer and a water-dropping helicopter will assist in the operation, which aims to reduce wildfire risk and improve ecosystem health along the I-280 corridor. The Ralston Bike Trail between Ralston Avenue and Cañada Road will be closed during the burn.
CAL FIRE CZU has conducted similar burns along the west side of I-280 over the past two years to thin overgrown vegetation and enhance native plant recovery.
In August, a 10-acre fire off I-280 in Woodside threatened Cañada College. The brush fire was on steep terrain, similar to the area of the controlled burn. Officials said the fire could have been a lot worse if firefighters had not acted so quickly.
Residents can learn more about prescribed fire efforts at fire.ca.gov/prescribed-fire and wildfire preparedness at readyforwildfire.org
