Fire Danger Forces Barbecue Ban at Some Santa Barbara Parks
Barbecues in some Santa Barbara parks are now off limits due to the high fire dangers.
The city will keep them cordoned off until conditions change and the areas are safer.
These are mainly smaller barbecues near picnic tables. Some larger barbecue areas remain open and can be reserved through the City’s Parks and Recreation Department.
The new rule is in effect at Escondido, Hilda Ray, Skofield, Stevens, and Oak Parks.
The full city news release is below:
SANTA BARBARA, CA— September 3, 2014—Increasing fire danger concerns related to Santa Barbara’s continuing drought status has caused the City of Santa Barbara to ban fires of all types at particularly vulnerable parks. This ban is effective immediately, and covers Escondido Park, Hilda Ray Park, Skofield Park, Stevens Park, and the section of Oak Park known as the German American Friendship Picnic Grove.
Specifically, the Parks and Recreation Department, in conjunction with the City of Santa Barbara Fire Department, have announced that wood and charcoal fires in barbecues or any other fire apparatuses are prohibited at the above-listed parks. These parks are located in high fire hazard zones, and the increasingly dry vegetation at these sites led to this decision, which was made to benefit the overall safety of Santa Barbara residents.
The barbecue ban will be enforced until the end of fire season is declared; in non-drought years, this would mean sometime in mid-November, but this year the end of fire season may come later.
