Burn operation planned for Morro Bay State Park campground

California State Parks plans to conduct a burn operation Monday at the Morro Bay State Park campground to clean up debris that presents a fire danger to nearby residents.

The operation involves an air curtain burner, “a contained steel and fire-brick unit for burning large volumes of downed trees, branches and woody material at high heat, high efficiency and low smoke emissions,” according to a news release from the California Department of Parks and Recreation.

“Efficiency is gained through the use of high-speed air intakes that increase the amount of oxygen, temperature and rate of burn,” the release said.

A February storm downed many trees in the area and forced Morro Bay State Park to close for several weeks. Officials say the remaining debris from that storm not only presents a fire danger to local residents, but could also spread pathogens that cause disease in the forest.

The curtain burner method is more efficient than pile burns, the release said, and results in almost no smoke emissions.

The operation will not occur if a burn ban is in effect Monday.

For more information, contact Dan Falat, superintendent of State Parks San Luis Obispo Coast District, at 805-927-2065.

This story was originally published December 1, 2017 at 5:22 PM with the headline "Burn operation planned for Morro Bay State Park campground."