Smoke from a 260-acre prescribed burn on Angel Island will be visible across southern Marin, including Mill Valley, Tiburon, Corte Madera and Larkspur, starting as early as Wednesday, Sept. 23.
California State Parks, CAL FIRE and the Marin County Fire Department plan to resume the burn Wednesday through Thursday, Sept. 24, according to a joint news release from Marin County and State Parks. The agencies paused the operation two weeks ago after discussions with the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD).
Residents should expect smoke between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. on burn days. Some haze may linger up to three days after ignitions. The agencies are asking the public not to call 911 to report smoke from the island.
The burn started Sept. 8 and cleared 62 of the planned 260 acres before the pause.
"We were able to burn 62 acres on the island with the fuels reduction that we've accomplished, reducing the chance of a catastrophic fire on the island," Sean Jerry, division chief of the CAL FIRE Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit, said in the release.
The operation targets grasslands and coastal scrub to reduce wildfire fuel loads. Funding comes from Proposition 4, the 2024 Climate Bond approved by California voters in November 2024, according to State Parks. That $10 billion bond authorized $1.5 billion specifically for wildfire resilience.
Graham Groneman, division chief of the Marin County Fire Department, said the agencies coordinate closely with the BAAQMD and look for weather windows that allow smoke to disperse with the least impact on surrounding communities.
Trail closures and park access
The park will stay open during the burn. But portions of the Ida Trail, Sunset Trail and the park's fire and perimeter roads will close for one to three days during and immediately after burning. Access to the summit of Mount Livermore will also be restricted on some burn days.
Visitors should follow posted closure signs and directions from park staff or fire personnel.
The actual burn dates depend on wildfire activity, resource availability, weather, predicted smoke movement and fuel moisture. If conditions are not right, the burn will be rescheduled.
Residents should limit time outdoors in smoky areas. Updates on burn status are available on the Angel Island State Park webpage, Facebook and Instagram pages.
