Prescribed fires planned for Hearst San Simeon, Montaña de Oro State Parks and Morro Bay

SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY, Calif. - You may see smoke in the air from Jan. 17 to Jan. 24 if you live in Cambria, Los Osos or Morro Bay.

California State Parks plans to do a prescribed burn of approximately 130 brush piles across Hearst San Simeon and Montaña de Oro State Parks and Morro Bay throughout the next week.

The piles were created as part of fuel reduction and forest management projects. The burns occur to reduce fuel loads including pine pitch canker, drought and standing dead trees.

The piles are located in Morro Bay State Park near the Marina Peninsula and along the Wildland Urban Interface between Ridgeway Street and Balboa Street. In Montaña de Oro State Park, the piles are located near Camp KEEP and the environmental camp facilities. The final piles are near the pine forest East of Highway 1 and South of San Simeon Creek campground.

The burns will start as early as 7 a.m. this Friday and end around 5 p.m. each day through Friday, Jan. 24.

Cal State Parks says fuel loads are decreased to reduce the threat of wildfires near communities.