BLM AREA B (Northern Portion of the Fort Ord National Monument)
As part of the munitions cleanup program, the Army is preparing to conduct a prescribed burn in Unit A in 2025. Prescribed burning is used to remove vegetation to expose the ground surface, so workers can safely locate and remove explosive ordnance. Prescribed burning is also required to encourage successful recovery of the rare, threatened and endangered fire-dependent species. Prescribed burns also help reduce wildfire risks. The burn season is from July to December, although suitable weather conditions typically occur in the fall months. Prescribed burn
Site preparation for the prescribed burn began on Monday, June 2, 2025 with vegetation cutting along fuel-break roads. Trails and roads in the vicinity of mechanical vegetation cutting equipment will be temporarily closed for public safety. Please stay away from the closed areas and give the workers room to operate. Closures will end daily. Work hours are Monday through Thursday, 6:30 am to 5:00 p.m.
A weekly map of planned work areas and potential road and trail closures appear below. Please check this website often for updates on work status and trail closures.
The prescribed burn planned for Unit A was not conducted in 2018 because the required combination of weather and other factors to meet the burn prescription did not occur. The prescribed burn was postponed to a future burn season. While the munitions cleanup in Unit A is pending, the Army has completed munitions cleanup on the trails within the unit (Trails 66-67-68-69). Based on the status of the work, the Army, BLM and the regulatory agencies agreed to open these trails for public use. Please keep to the trails and roads that are signed open. Access may be restricted if the trail rules are not followed.
Thank you for complying with the temporary trail and road closures while the Army’s munitions cleanup is in progress. For your safety please Mind the Signs, and continue to call the Army’s information line (1-800-852-9699) with your feedback and if you have any questions. Thank you.
Munitions related items recovered through 3/4/2020
- Items detonated = 719
- Items confirmed as munitions and explosives of concern (MEC) = 450
- Munitions Debris = 38,619.35 lbs
The map below shows current trail closures as well as Access Corridors.
Remember the Three R’s: Recognize, Retreat, Report
While you are out in the former Fort Ord, if you recognize any object that resembles munitions or explosives, retreat to a safe location, and report the finding to 911 or local law enforcement.
In transferred former Fort Ord properties, the standard procedure is for the local law enforcement agency to request a response by a military Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) unit or by local bomb squad with equivalent training.
- Final Site-Specific Work Plan, Munitions and Explosives of Concern Remedial Action
- Final BLM Area B – Units A, B, and C Prescribed Burn Plan
- Presentation from the May 23, 2017 Project Kick Off meeting
Frequently Asked Questions|Events and News|Prescribed Burns|Contact Army|Fact Sheet