Cal Poly is planning its first-ever prescribed burn at Swanton Pacific Ranch since the CZU Lightning Complex Fire in 2020.
Cal Poly officials say the roughly 50-acre burn will be led by CAL FIRE.
The burn is designed to reduce hazardous vegetation, strengthen a regional fuel break and support wildfire resilience.
Campus officials also say it gives students hands-on experience as they study how a prescribed fire can help restore the landscape and protect nearby communities.
