Santa Barbara County Plans 289-Acre Prescribed Burn in Tepusquet Canyon
The Santa Barbara County Fire Department is planning a prescribed burn of 289 acres in Tepusquet Canyon, located east of Santa Maria. The burn is scheduled for late October or early November and aims to reduce wildland fuels, control non-native…
Santa Barbara Santa Maria San Luis Obispo, CA, October 20, 2026 —
The Santa Barbara County Fire Department is planning a prescribed burn covering 289 acres in Tepusquet Canyon, east of Santa Maria. The operation is scheduled for late October or early November, according to the information provided.
The department’s stated goals are to reduce wildland fuels, control non-native grasses and establish native vegetation. It is also coordinating efforts to minimize smoke impacts on surrounding communities.
The information provided does not specify an exact start date, how long the burn is expected to last or which communities may be affected by smoke. It also does not include details about notifications to residents, the conditions that would determine when the burn proceeds, or the agencies involved in the coordination.
The planned work is described as a prescribed burn, rather than an unplanned wildfire. The summary does not provide further information about the site’s vegetation, the amount of fuel targeted for reduction or how the department will assess the project’s results.
The timing remains a broad window: late October or early November. No more specific schedule was provided. The department’s stated aims combine reducing wildland fuels with managing non-native grasses and encouraging native vegetation, while taking steps to limit smoke impacts on nearby communities.
Story summarized from the original created by Lyz Bantilan for Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District on www.noozhawk.com, see more information here.
