Prescribed Burn Program

Call (831) 242-7383 or toll free 1-800-852-9699 for updates.

The Fort Ord prescribed burn season begins July 1. Register with the Direct Notification Program to be notified when a prescribed burn is imminent, and when a prescribed burn is started. Check this website or call the toll free number for periodic updates.

If you registered for the direct notification program in 2009 or in previous years, you must re-register for the program in 2010 to receive notification. Community members can re-register for this program or update existing contact information by calling the toll free number or by completing the Direct Notification Program registration form (see instructions below). The Army will use contact information only to provide prescribed burn update information.

View an informational factsheet about the prescribed burn program.

AVISO DE QUEMAS PROGRAMADAS
Despus del 1 de julio del 2010, el Ejrcito pretende llevar a cabo una o ms quemas programadas en el antigo Fort Ord.

The Army will notify the community when suitable conditions are considered imminent and when a prescribed burn is started. Direct notification will be provided by telephone or email for anyone who registers to receive such notification.

To register, submit a registration form to:

Base Realignment and Closure Field Office
Fort Ord Prescribed Burn Direct Notification Program
P.O. Box 5008
Monterey, CA 93944-5008
FAX: (831) 393-9188

• Download, print, and mail the PDF version of the registration form (requires a PDF reader, such as Adobe Acrobat).
   - or -
  
• Print and mail the HTML version of the registration form
  

The Presidio of Monterey Fire Department Chief of Fire and Emergency Services (Fire Chief) has designated Units 15, 21, 32 and 34 for prescribed burning during the 2010 burn season. Unit 15 is approximately 167 acres and is located south of Unit 19. Unit 21 is approximately 110 acres and is east of Unit 19. Vegetation in the majority of Units 32 and 34 will be cut as part of the burn containment lines. See Figure 2 in the report "Final MRS-BLM Units 15, 21, 32 and 34 Prescribed Burn Plan, 2010, Former Fort Ord, Monterey, California".

The prescribed burn plan includes the burn prescription, air monitoring plan and community notification plan. Site preparation, such as preparation of primary, secondary and tertiary containment lines, removal of combustible surface debris (if safe to do so), and preparation of staging areas and access routes, will be completed before the burn season begins. The Army is currently accepting registrations for the Direct Notification Program. After July 1, a burn will be conducted when conditions meet the burn prescription for either of the prepared units. This means that more than one prescribed burn may be conducted in 2010.

If you have concerns about what to do to avoid exposure to smoke, the following suggestions are offered:

• Avoid strenuous work or exercise outdoors;
• Close up your home by shutting windows and doors;
• Air conditioning controls should be set in the "recycle" mode to prevent outside air from being drawn into your home;
• Drink plenty of fluids to keep your respiratory membranes moist;
• Seek medical care if breathing becomes difficult, and
• Consider using an over-the-counter nasal moisturizing spray (saline)

2009 Prescribed Burn Program

Prescribed burn of Unit 14 (280 acres) was conducted on October 6. Active ignition began at 9:50 a.m. and was suspended after 1 hour to allow for the suppression of a slop-over (fire extending beyond the target area). On October 7 the burning was continued with active ignition beginning at 7:50 a.m. and completed at 9:00 a.m. The prescribed burn of Unit 19 (196 acres) was conducted on November 16, 2009. Active ignition began at 9:30 a.m. and lasted for 90 minutes.

More than 3,000 people were notified at the time of mobilization for and ignition of the burns. Air quality monitoring for particulate matter was conducted at seven locations surrounding the Impact Area. Results indicate that all but one of the air samples (Marshall Park during the Unit 19 burn) were below the screening level established for the program.

Lessons learned included: the need for adjustments to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) restrictions over the burn area to allow more efficient aerial operations; a requirement for the extension of the Minimum Separation Distance (MSD) for ground and aerial personnel for greater safety of burn personnel; and the adjustment of meteorological restrictions for designation of appropriate burn conditions that can increase future burn opportunities within smoke management guidelines.

These 2009 prescribed burns were completed without injury to personnel, within their containment lines, and with minimal air quality impacts. A comprehensive review of the prescribed burn is described in the report: Draft Final, Prescribed Burn 2009 MRS-BLM Units 14 and 19 After Action Report, Former Fort Ord, Monterey County, California issued May 26, 2010.

The Army proposed a cleanup plan for munitions and explosives of concern (MEC), including unexploded ordnance (UXO), in the 6,560-acre portion of the historical Impact Area. Public comments on the proposed plan were accepted during a 60-day public comment period from June 28 to August 28, 2007. The Army and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in consultation with California EPA Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC), considered the public comments and selected a remedy for the site. The selected remedy is described in the Record of Decision Impact Area Munitions Response Area Track 3 Munitions Response Site. This document also includes the Army's responses to public comments.

The selected remedy (Technology-Aided Surface MEC Remediation with Subsurface MEC Remediation in Selected Areas) will involve the following activities:

• Prescribed burning to remove vegetation
• Surface removal of MEC from the entire site and subsurface MEC removal in selected areas of the site
• Digital geophysical mapping
• Land use controls including a perimeter fence to manage and control public access

The Fort Ord Environmental Cleanup Program Toll Free Number 1-800-852-9699 provides information on detonation schedules, updates on prescribed burns and the opportunity to speak to an environmental staff person or leave a message.

You can also call the toll free number and request to be added to the Fort Ord Community Relations mailing list and receive monthly information packets in the mail. You can also request to receive notices by email. Simply provide your name, mailing address and email address when you call. Remember to specify that you'd like to be added to the mailing list and/or email notifications. The mailing packets and email notifications provide information about upcoming public meetings and community outreach events, updates on reports being issued for public review, details of planned construction activities and more.