Prescribed burn underway in Santa Cruz County

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY, Calif. (KION) A prescribed burn operation started Thursday at Año Nuevo State Park and Wilder Ranch State Park.

Burns in those two areas are scheduled to happen between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. through Wednesday.

State Parks said the burns are part of a program for vegetation management, hazardous fuel load reduction and wildlife habitat improvement among other benefits.

In Año Nuevo State Park, a 145 acre burn is planed for the ocean side of Highway 1, and Whitehouse Creek Trail will be closed from Highway 1 to the beach during the burns.

Several grassland areas at Wilder Ranch State Park will be part of the prescribed burn, and some trails will be temporarily closed during those times.

State Parks warns that smoke may be visible around the Monterey Bay area and to those driving on Highway 1.