Controlled Burn Scheduled June 9 On Santa Rosa Plateau

MURRIETA, CA — A controlled burn is planned Wednesday along the Santa Rosa Plateau west of Murrieta, and officials advised residents and motorists not to be alarmed by the smoke.

Roughly 60 acres is slated to be torched by Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department crews in the area of Tenaja and Forest Boundary roads.

The operation is planned between 7 a.m. and noon, but will only proceed as long as winds remain calm.

"This prescribed burn is part of a vegetation management program ... with the goal of eliminating non-native grass, as well as reducing the hazard posed by flammable vegetation, " according to an agency statement. "In addition to the ecological and hazard reduction benefits, firefighters are provided the opportunity to participate in wildland fire suppression training."

Drift smoke likely will be detectable throughout Murrieta and the Temecula Valley, and motorists on Interstate 15 will see it.

Prescribed burns are conducted every spring in the county, during calm wind days with moderate to high relative humidity, reducing wildfire danger.

Anyone with questions or concerns was asked to call the department's public affairs bureau at 951-940-6985.