Prescribed Burn Planned at Salt Point State Park
Contact:
Ryan Klausch
Environmental Scientist
(707) 231-8173
Newsroom@parks.ca.gov
Operations could begin Friday, Oct. 31
Prescribed burn at Fort Ross State Historic Park in October 2025. Photo from California State Parks.
SONOMA COUNTY— California State Parks is planning up to 47 acres of prescribed burns near Gerstle Cove at Salt Point State Park, beginning as early as Friday, Oct. 31, or when conditions permit. The park will remain open during burn days. The Southern Terminus of the Salt Point Trail Parking Lot and Overflow Parking/Camping will be temporarily closed.
Ignitions are expected to occur over one day with the goal of supporting ongoing vegetation management, wildlife habitat improvement, invasive plant management and other long term stewardship efforts. This prescribed burn is specifically aimed at reducing fuel loads in grasslands and coastal scrub and promoting native species. Fire personnel will monitor the area following operations.
This burn is conducted as a part of State Parks’ Prescribed Fire Training Exchange (TREX). Prescribed Fire Training Exchanges, known as TREXs, facilitate training, information sharing and relationship building for personnel who work with fire. These exchanges provide certified fire practitioners with the opportunity to hone their skills and work toward more advanced qualifications with the support of fellow fire management professionals.
Prescribed burns are planned and coordinated with the Northern Sonoma County Air Pollution Control District to minimize smoke impacts on surrounding communities. All burning depends on weather and air conditions that are favorable for smoke dispersal. If conditions are not conducive to burning, the burn will be rescheduled.
State Parks asks that visitors adhere to posted closure signage and any directions from park staff or fire personnel. Please use extreme caution when recreating near prescribed fire operations due to fire personnel and equipment in the area. Peopletravelingneartheburnareasmayseesmokeonthedayoftheburn,though prescribed burns produce significantly less smoke than a wildfire. In the unlikely event you smell smoke, officials urge you to take precautions and use common sense to reduce any harmful health effects by limiting time spent in smoky areas. These precautions are especially important for children, older adults and people with respiratory and heart conditions. Community members should refrain from calling 911 to report smoke from the area to avoid overwhelming emergency dispatchers.
To stay up to date on the status of this burn, please check the Salt Point State Park Webpage.
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California State Parks provides for the health, inspiration and education of the people of California by helping to preserve the state’s extraordinary biological diversity, protecting its most valued natural and cultural resources, and creating opportunities for high quality outdoor recreation.