Controlled Fires to Be Set Next Week

Controlled burns to wipe out nonnative weeds and vegetation in a wilderness area between Laguna Beach and Newport Beach have been rescheduled for Monday and Tuesday. The state Department of Parks and Recreation and the Nature Conservancy had planned the burns for earlier this month, but postponed them because of high temperatures and winds, said Trish Smith, the Nature Conservancy’s reserve manager.

The burns, totaling about 100 acres within Crystal Cove State Park and Irvine Co. reserve land, are aimed at ridding the area of nonnative plants and weeds, including the artichoke thistle.

While some native vegetation will be burned, the fires are expected to enhance the growth of native plant species as part of a younger, more productive ecosystem. Plans include replenishing the area with native plants.