Marin Valley County Club residents in Novato are advised to anticipate pile burning that's slated today through November 16 as part of the Greater Novato Shaded Fuel Break project. This project is a coordinated effort between Marin County Fire, the City of Novato, and the Novato Fire District Vegetation Management Specialists as per the Novato Fire Protection District.

Smoke will be visible throughout this period, daily from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. It's advised that passersby and residents avoid distress calls reporting the sight, as it's a planned activity. The piles that will be burned are an accumulation from hand thinning conducted by the Marin County Fire’s Tam Crews on the City of Novato property on Pacheco Hill.

Pile burning aims at reducing the biomass of debris accumulated from hand thinning in the project area. This is a concerted strategy for fuel reduction, helping fight wildfires, and safeguarding our communities.