Controlled burn at Old St. Hilary's preserve slated to begin June 24

Fire agencies and Marin County Parks are planning a controlled burn of some 150 piles of cut vegetation beginning June 24 in the Old St. Hilary's Open Space Preserve above downtown Tiburon, county officials say.

If conditions are appropriate, preparations would take place Monday. If smoke dispersal is sufficient, burning is scheduled to start about 9:30 a.m. and last until about 3 p.m. daily through June 26 or until the project is completed.

Depending on winds, residents throughout the Tiburon Peninsula can expect to see or smell smoke, while nearby residents can also expect to see Marin County and Tiburon Fire Protection District firefighters, engines and other equipment in the Vistazo West Street area of the preserve. Nearby hiking trails also would be closed temporarily.

Much of the debris is reportedly from acacia trees cut last fall.