THOUSAND OAKS : Plans for Controlled Burns to Be Discussed

The Conejo Recreation and Park District will hold a public meeting Thursday to discuss plans for several controlled burns that will be conducted in the area early next year to reduce the risk of fire near hundreds of homes with shake roofs.

The meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at Wildwood School, said Jon Von Tilburg, the district’s park superintendent.

Beginning in January, firefighters will cut and clear brush in two- to three-acre parcels, then stack the debris for burning.

A total of 20 to 30 acres of brush will be removed under the five-month program, which will be repeated every year for several years.

The fire-prevention program has been in the planning stages for more than a year and was not the result of recent wildfires in the Thousand Oaks area, fire officials said.

There are more than 400 homes with shake roofs in the Wildwood Park area at the northwest end of the city.

Fire officials said the intent of the program is to keep down the fire risk until all of the homes have replaced their shake roofs with tile or other fire-resistant roofing materials, as required under city ordinance.