Tuesday’s Santa Maria Riverbed fire was a “total emergency” wildfire | Local news

A fire in the Santa Maria Riverbed Tuesday afternoon that charred 8 acres of land and sent smoke into the sky was a wildfire, not a controlled burn, said Toni Davis, Cal Fire San Luis Obispo spokeswoman.

A second riverbed fire on June 10, described as an “outdoor trash fire,” destroyed most of a homeless encampment in the riverbed near Preisker Park.

The cause of both fires is currently being investigated.

“Our controlled fires are planned in advance,” Davis said, responding to speculation from residents about the cause of the fire. “If it’s a controlled fire, a press release will be sent out about a week in advance. There will be planning and preparation. It was not vegetation control, controlled, prescribed or anything like that. This (Tuesday’s fire) was a full-blown emergency wildfire.”

While the Santa Maria Fire Department initially responded to the fire on Tuesday, the San Luis Obispo Fire Department, which has primary responsibility for large parts of the riverbed, soon joined in.

Firefighters reported via X (formerly Twitter) that the fire was fully contained to 8 acres.

Controlled fires, used to control vegetation and also known as prescribed fires, are carefully planned and controlled fires intentionally set for forest management, agriculture or prairie restoration, Davis said. The fires are critical to reducing the buildup of flammable plant materials and encouraging the growth of native vegetation.

The burn area is carefully mapped and specific areas are targeted to keep the fire under control. The process helps remove invasive species that can displace native plants and increase the risk of uncontrollable wildfires.

For example, invasive plants like star thistle that aren’t eaten by cattle can pose a fire hazard. Controlled fires remove the plants so native grasses and wildflowers can reclaim the land. The process also reduces the amount of fuel, making future fires less intense and more manageable, Davis said.

Cal Fire typically plans controlled burns in the fall or spring, when conditions are optimal for maintaining control. During the summer months when most fires occur, resources are scarce due to the increasing frequency of wildfires, making controlled burns less practical, according to Davis.

Davis urged people to prepare for wildfires. Readyforwildfire.org offers valuable resources for maintaining a defensible perimeter around homes, protecting buildings against fire and preparing an emergency backpack. The site also offers guidelines for evacuation procedures and safety tips.

For current information on fires burning over 10 acres in California, visit Fire.ca.gov/incidents. The site provides updates on current incidents and helps residents stay informed about fire activity in their area.

Public information is shared through platforms such as X (formerly Twitter) at @CALFIRE_SLO, where planned controlled burns are also communicated.

April Chavez is the Santa Maria City Reporter for the Santa Maria Times. If you have information or a story idea you’d like to share, email her at [email protected].