The U.S. Forest Service has announced plans to try to stop major brush fires by creating new fire breaks, and improving existing ones in the Los Padres National Forest above Santa Barbara, Goleta, and parts of the Gaviota coastline.
The fuel breaks are intended to make it easier for firefighters to control fires, especially ones which might be moving towards populated areas. The focus will be in the mountains above Goleta, as well as around some mountain communities like Painted Cave, San Marcos Trout Club, and Haney Tract.
The clearing will include the chipping of some vegetation which will be left to decompose. In other spots, it will be burned. The hope is that the project will make it easier to stop wildfires burning from the national forest onto private property.