An Inside Look: Prescribed Fires at Rancho Cañada del Oro

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In late October 2026, a multi-acre fire burned in Morgan Hill. Yet, no alarm bells rang, no sirens wailed and no one faced danger. That’s because, for months, Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority staff and partners carefully planned this fire as part of the agency’s growing Wildfire Resiliency Program. Through this new program, good fire will be reintroduced to the land to reduce the likelihood of high intensity wildfires, enhance soil health and improve the ability of native plants to thrive. 

In just one day, Open Space Authority staff, fire experts and professionals successfully completed a 5-acre prescribed fire at Rancho Cañada del Oro Open Space Preserve.

Scroll through the photos below to step into the scene of the October 2026 prescribed fire.
 

Fire experts and professionals pose for a photo in front of their vehicles.

The day started with Open Space Authority staff and fire experts from Prometheus Fire Consulting, CalFire, the Santa Clara County Fire Department, the San Jose Fire Department, Santa Clara County Parks and the Bay Area Air District convening in the parking lot of Rancho Cañada del Oro Open Space Preserve in Morgan Hill. Photo by Caitlin Dempsey.

People in fire protective gear form a circle to debrief about plans for a prescribed fire in a gravel parking lot.

Once all partners arrived at the preserve, everyone gathered in a circle for a briefing about the day’s planned trainings and fires. Photo by Avery Cruz.

A map with the Open Space Authority logo shows the location of three prescribed fires at Rancho Cañada del Oro Open Space Preserve.

A map highlights the three locations of the prescribed fires: Hidden Meadow Loop, Llagas Meadow (next to the staging area of the preserve) and a parcel of land in the western portion of the preserve. Photo by Avery Cruz.

A group of Open Space Authority staff in yellow personal protective equipment gather in a circle to learn about drip torches from a fire expert.

Prior to placing fire on the land, fire experts trained Open Space Authority staff on how to use drip torches. These special torches carry gasoline and diesel to help ignite a controlled flame. Photo by Avery Cruz.

Four people in yellow fire protective gear walk along a path next to dry grassland.

Wearing personal protective equipment and carrying fire safety tools, Open Space Authority staff walked to the site of the first planned burn at Rancho Cañada del Oro Open Space Preserve. Photo by Avery Cruz.

A person in fire protective gear bends down while holding a drip torch.

Once the weather provided safe conditions for a prescribed fire, it was time to start the burn. Andrea Mackenzie, General Manager of the Open Space Authority, used a drip torch to ignite the first flames in Hidden Meadow. Photo by Caitlin Dempsey.

Fire professionals walk along a nature path while observing the smoke coming from an area of just-burned land.

In just under 30 minutes, fire crews completed the Hidden Meadow loop burn. Santa Clara County and San Jose Fire Department crew members were on standby should any flames jump the containment line or to extinguish any reignited vegetation. Photo by Charlotte Graham.

A group of people in fire protective gear stand in a circle next to dry vegetation.

After each burn, fire experts talked with Open Space Authority staff to debrief what went well and what could be improved for the next fire. Photo by Avery Cruz.

A person wear fire protective gear bends over to place fuel from a drip torch on the ground with flames and smoke in the background.

Next, the fire crews successfully conducted a fire in Llagas Meadow, the area of land within Rancho Cañada del Oro Open Space Preserve’s accessible Hidden Meadow Trail. Photo by Avery Cruz.

Two people in fire protective gear carry drip torches while standing next to dry vegetation that's on fire.

After a lunch break, fire crews made their way to the final burn location in the western part of Rancho Cañada del Oro Open Space Preserve. Photo by Charlotte Graham.

Thank you to our partners from Prometheus Fire Consulting, CalFire, the Santa Clara County Fire Department, the San José Fire Department, Santa Clara County Parks and the Bay Area Air District for joining us and providing hands-on training to our staff. And thank you to the neighbors of the preserve for their ongoing support and patience during the burns.

Additional prescribed fires are being planned for land that is owned and managed by the Open Space Authority. Visit openspaceauthority.org/prescribed-fires to sign up for future prescribed fire updates!
 

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