Prescribed Burns
The Army is Planning to Conduct a Prescribed Burn in 2025.
Why does the Army conduct prescribed burns? Burns are conducted to both encourage recovery of endangered fire dependent plant species and to facilitate continued munitions clean-up. To protect sensitive species, the prescribed burn season is limited in duration from July to December.
How can I be notified about prescribed burns? The Army’s Direct Notification Program provides messages when a prescribed burn is imminent. Enroll in the Direct Notification Program (Click Here) and choose from notifications by email, SMS text message, a phone call or a combination of all three. Messages will be sent during the following phases of the prescribed burn:
- Mobilization: A prescribed burn is imminent and could occur any time
- Ignition: A prescribed burn has been ignited
- Completion: A prescribed burn has been completed
Note: Even if you registered in previous years, you must re-register each year.
Where will the 2025 prescribed burn take place? Unit A in the Fort Ord National Monument. See map below for the location of Unit A and prescribed burn containment lines (fuel breaks). Click to enlarge.
Will there be trail & road closures? Yes, there will be temporary trail and road closures while work is being conducted. For updates on work status and trail closures visit the BLM Area B webpage (Click Here). Updates will also be posted in the Army’s information kiosks located at popular recreational access points.
What is necessary to consider a burn? The Army has developed a burn prescription which describes the appropriate combinations of atmospheric conditions and moisture levels in the vegetation under which the burn will be conducted. The burn prescription is designed to facilitate good smoke behavior and burn control.
The Army’s prescribed burn program at Fort Ord is conducted as part of the munitions cleanup program. A burn encourages recovery of endangered fire dependent plant species and facilitates continued munitions clean-up. To protect sensitive species, the prescribed burn season is limited to summer and fall from July to December of each year. Days that meet the burn prescription usually occur in the fall months.
Links to Burn Program Reports and Documents.
- Draft BLM Area B – Unit A Prescribed Burn Plan Update, April 2025
- Proposed Plan (Impact Area), June 2007
- Record of Decision, Impact Area Munitions Response Area, Track 3 Munitions Response Site
- Proposed Plan (Northern Portion of Fort Ord National Monument), April 2015
- Record of Decision, Final, Record of Decision, Track 2 Bureau of Land Management Area B and Munitions Response Site 16 (Northern Portion of the Fort Ord National Monument), May 2017
Questions?
Call us toll free at 1-800-852-9699 for additional information.
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