A pile burn operation will be conducted Friday in Topanga Canyon as part of a multi-agency effort to reduce wildfire risk by burning off vegetation in the Santa Monica Mountains.
According to the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority, the burn will be from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday near Africa Lookout along the Summit-to-Summit Motorway. It will be carried out in coordination with the Los Angeles County Fire Department, the lead agency, and will proceed only if weather and air quality conditions are favorable.
The operation will cover about 15 acres along a ridge extending west from the motorway across Topanga Canyon Boulevard.
Crews will burn piles of vegetation that were cut and stacked during earlier fuel reduction work.
Officials said the purpose is to establish a fuel break that can help slow wildfire spread and support suppression efforts in the Topanga area.
A pile burn is a type of prescribed fire in which cut vegetation is gathered into piles and burned under controlled conditions. Such operations are conducted only when environmental factors allow for safe ignition and containment.
More information on prescribed fire and smoke safety is available at www.airnow.gov, www.aqmd.gov, and www.publichealth.lacounty.gov/eh/safety/prescribed-fire.htm.
MRCA officials said the project is intended to limit ecological impacts by targeting previously cut material rather than removing standing vegetation. Preserving root systems and reducing soil disturbance can help minimize erosion while allowing natural regrowth to continue, officials said.
Smoke may be visible in Topanga Canyon and surrounding communities during the burn and could settle in lower elevations overnight.
Officials said people sensitive to smoke, including children, older adults, and those with respiratory conditions, are advised to limit outdoor activity if needed.
Fire personnel will remain on site during the operation to monitor conditions and maintain control. Authorities said the public should not report the planned burn as a wildfire, but any fire activity outside the designated area or time frame should be reported.
After ignition, crews will continue mop-up work until heat and smoke are no longer visible near control lines. Personnel will patrol the area, with resources assigned for at least 48 hours after completion.
Additional checks, including aerial infrared monitoring, will be used to confirm the burn is fully extinguished.
Drivers in the area may encounter reduced visibility and minor delays along Topanga Canyon Boulevard.
A final decision on whether to proceed will be made Thursday afternoon.
Officials noted the project is part of a broader fuel management program in the Santa Monica Mountains, with updates available at mrca.ca.gov/statewide-critical-fuel-reduction-projects.
Residents can also monitor real-time updates and a map of the planned operation through the Watch Duty app at app.watchduty.org/, where prescribed burns are marked with specific icons to distinguish them from wildfires.