A prescribed fire clears away plant materials that can fuel dangerous wildfires. This includes underbrush (the low plants growing beneath taller trees), dead and fallen trees, and "duff" - the layer of decayed leaves and organic matter that builds up on the ground. When left alone, these materials pile up and act as fuel, letting a wildfire burn hotter and spread faster.

Prescribed fires benefit the land by clearing out excess fuel under controlled conditions. This keeps invasive species from taking over, and makes it less likely that a future wildfire will grow tall or intense enough to damage or kill native trees. As a bonus, the ash left behind after a prescribed fire adds nutrients to the soil, helping native plants grow.

Yes! Prescribed fires are just one tool. The Open Space Authority also uses grazing cattle, mowing equipment, and hand-pulling to remove invasive weeds and reduce fire risk.

For thousands of years, Indigenous Tribes have used fire to care for the land, reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires and support their crops. Many continue these practices today using “cultural burns.” These low-intensity and spiritual burns place fire on the land in a patchwork pattern to burn one small area of land at a time. Learn more about Indigenous cultural burning practices here.

In the late 1700s, Spanish missionaries and settlers brought non-native grass seeds to California. These fast-growing grasses spread across the state over time and crowded out native plants. Today, they're the dominant grass species in many California grasslands. If disease were to strike these grasses, the dead plant matter could pile up and fuel more severe wildfires. Prescribed fires help prevent this by clearing out built-up vegetation before it becomes a bigger risk.

Yes! In 2005 and 2006, the Open Space Authority carried out prescribed fires at Rancho Cañada del Oro Open Space Preserve within the Llagas Creek Loop Trail and Bald Peaks Trail. Both prescribed fires were completed successfully.

Fire always carries some risk, so safety is the Authority's top priority. Staff who take part in the prescribed fires go through extensive training to prevent injuries and stop fire from escaping the planned fire area. 

Before each prescribed fire: Crews prepare the land by trimming overgrown, dry plants and grass to reduce the amount of fuel available to the fire. Crews also build fire containment lines, called fuel breaks, which help slow or stop a fire's spread.

On the day of a prescribed fire: Fire experts constantly monitor the temperature, humidity and wind speed. If conditions go beyond safe limits at any point, the Open Space Authority will cancel the prescribed fire. Staff and partner agencies also use professional firefighting equipment, including fire hoses connected to water sources, so they can respond quickly if needed. 

Yes! The Open Space Authority is partnering with Prometheus Fire, Santa Clara County Parks, the Santa Clara County Fire Department, Cal Fire and the City of San José Fire Department to carry out prescribed burns. Volunteers from the Casa Loma Volunteer Fire Department are also invited to participate. These burns offer new fire fighters hands-on experience with a contained fire and the chance to practice safety skills.

The Authority hired a consulting firm to help design a prescribed fire plan for each site. Each plan lays out how and where fire will be used to benefit the land. On prescribed fire days, the firm has a safety officer on-site who will track current and expected temperature, humidity and wind speeds. If weather conditions don't meet the safety standards in the plan, the prescribed fire will not happen.

While these planned fires produce some smoke, it is carefully managed. The prescribed fires will happen on days when the wind and weather will quickly blow the smoke away from neighborhoods. These planned fires cause much less smoke and pollution than a large, out-of-control wildfire. 

In most cases, yes, the preserves will stay open during prescribed fires. Check the Alerts & Closures page on the Authority’s website or social media for any exceptions and live updates.