CAL FIRE Plans Prescribed Burn at Coyote Valley Dam, Smoke Expected Over Ukiah and Redwood Valley

Press release from CAL FIRE Mendocino:

The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) Mendocino Unit, working with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as well as Ukiah Valley Fire Authority, will be conducting a vegetation management prescribed burn at the Coyote Valley Dam.

This prescribed burn will treat approximately 23 acres of grass along the face of Coyote Valley Dam, to facilitate the annual geological survey and required earthquake inspection of the dam structure. This reduction of vegetation will also help reduce the chance of catastrophic wildfires in the future, while providing firefighters with live fire training opportunities.

Coyote Dam and the fish Hatchery near the base of the dam will be closed to the public while this prescribed burn occurs. Burning will take place on Sunday, June 28th, 2026, starting at approximately 6 p.m. and conclude at approximately 11 p.m. Smoke will be visible throughout the entire Ukiah and Redwood Valley areas.

This project adds to significant work underway throughout the state and brings California one step closer towards meeting state fuels reduction goals directed by the California Fire Plan and the California Wildfire and Forest Resilience Action Plan. To track the progress being made, both in your community and throughout California, visit the CAL FIRE fuels reduction dashboard at https://www.fire.ca.gov/what-we-do/natural-resource-management/fuels-reduction.

This project burn will be conducted under strictly controlled weather and fuel conditions. Smoke and aircraft may be visible in the area.

For more information about how you and your family can prepare for wildfire visit www.ReadyForWildfire.org.