Training Burn at Sycamore Grove Park Schedule June 5th through 8th
Contact
Matt Thau, Fire Captain
(510)909-5401
Update 6/8/23: The prescribed burns are complete. The Upper Property at Sycamore Grove is now reopened.
The Livermore-Pleasanton Fire Department (LPFD) announced that live fire training burns would take place Monday, June 5th through Thursday, June 9th at Sycamore Grove Park in Livermore. Participants will include personnel from the Livermore-Pleasanton, CAL FIRE, Alameda County, East Bay Regional Park District, and Camp Parks Fire Departments.
This year’s live fire training is planned to burn approximately 50 acres of grassland in Upper Sycamore Grove Park, which will be closed during the burns.
Lower Park will remain open throughout the week. Burning operations are scheduled to occur between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. each day, and smoke may be visible in the Livermore area.
Fire is a natural phenomenon in California and has many ecological benefits. The LPFD works closely with the Livermore Area Recreation and Park District (LARPD) to perform vegetation management at Sycamore Grove Park utilizing fire. The scheduled training will support LARPD programs for vegetation management, hazardous fuel load reduction, and wildlife habitat improvement by removing noxious weeds and fuel buildup. These programs enhance the health of the park by promoting the growth of native grasses and flowers and reducing the severity of future wildfires.
Live fire training provides invaluable opportunities for agency collaboration, coordinating resources, and expanding firefighter knowledge for safer and more effective firefighting operations before the arrival of peak wildfire season. This training will cover fire behavior, firing operations, holding operations, and mobile fire attacks.
Live burns produce significantly less smoke than wildfires and are planned in coordination with the Bay Area Air Quality Management District to minimize the smoke impact on surrounding communities. Weather and air quality will be continually monitored to ensure favorable conditions for smoke dispersal throughout planned operations. If conditions are not conducive for safe burning operations or air quality, the training will be rescheduled.