Burning Postponed

Piles of dried brush will still be burned to reduce fire fuel, but not during the week of April 13-17.

Piles of vegetation removed by volunteers in the Hillside Natural Area will not be burned this week (April 13-17),  El Cerrito Fire Battalion Chief Chase Beckman said Sunday morning (April 12).

The operation was postponed because rain drenched the piles, creating the likelihood that they would smoke if ignited soon, Beckman said.

Beckman wrote in an email:

“High dead fuel moisture and wet material would cause excessive smoke production while limiting efficient fuel consumption.  Using additional levels of accelerants to force ignition would be both ineffective and hazardous to the overall burn objectives.”

The pile burning operation described in a Livable El Cerrito on Apr. 11 will occur later. A revised schedule will be announced shortly, Beckman said.