Controlled Burns To Produce Smoke In San Mateo County Wednesday

SAN MATEO COUNTY, CA — Fire crews will be conducting controlled burns on dam faces Wednesday that will result in visible smoke in parts of San Mateo County from Interstate 280.

The burn was originally scheduled for Tuesday but was moved to Wednesday due to more favorable conditions, officials said.

CAL Fire, the San Mateo County Fire Department and Ben Lomond Conservation Camp crews will conduct the burns beginning at 9 a.m. on San Francisco Public Utilities Commission watershed lands across seven acres. Four acres will be at San Andreas Dam and three at Pilarcitos Dam.

The annual burn is conducted to reduce fire fuels and maintain access for inspections and monitoring of the dams, along with providing training for firefighters ahead of fire season.

Crews will also survey the area for special status animals like the San Francisco garter snake and the California red-legged frog ahead of the burn.