field burning

Location: between Westmorland and Brawley

Category: Air

Description:

Field burning northwest of Brawley. Wind was heading towards Brawley and engulfed the entire city with heavy yellow smoke. It was at 9 a.m.

Administrator Comment: July 7, 2023: This report was forwarded to APCD at 1:25 p.m. July 18, 2023: APCD Response: "Earlier in the day on July 6, 2023, at approximately 8:45 a.m., ICAPCD Staff observed the smoke referenced in the IVAN complaint-report and traveled immediately to the source. The smoke source was an agricultural field, approximately 112 acres of dried Bermuda grass, near the intersection of Loveland Rd. and Roberts Rd. in Brawley, CA. The canal gate was Westside Main 72. ICAPCD Staff arrived at this location at approximately 9:05 a.m., and spoke with representatives from Auza Farms and Imperial County Fire Department. The Auza Farms Supervisor stated that his operators were harvesting at 8:00 a.m. when the heat of one tractor sparked a fire. The operator immediately drove off the dry grass and called for help. The operator contacted the Fire Department and neighboring farming companies. While at the source, ICAPCD Staff observed Westmorland Fire Department and Imperial County Fire Department creating fire breaks and applying water to keep the fire contained. ICAPCD Staff departed the location of the fire at approximately 9:30 a.m., and noted later in the day while traveling around Brawley, CA that smoke emissions were no lover visible by 11:00 a.m. This concludes Imperial County APCD’s investigation into the smoke concerns in Brawley, CA on July 6, 2023.”