The SLO County Air Pollution Control District (SLO County APCD) issued this press release today, in coordination with CAL FIRE/San Luis Obispo County Fire Department, the City of San Luis Obispo, and yak titʸu titʸu yak tiłhini Northern Chumash Tribe of SLO Region and County to provide the public with information in preparation for a cultural burn at the Johnson Ranch Open Space property, located on Ontario Road in San Luis Obispo, west of Highway 101.

The proposed 15-acre burn is set to occur June 18, 2024, however, depending on the meteorological conditions, the cultural burn could occur be moved to June 19, 2024, or postponed.

This cultural burn is an interagency operation hosted by yak titʸu titʸu yak tiłhini Northern Chumash Tribe with support from CAL FIRE/ San Luis Obispo County Fire Department and SLO City Fire. This burn also combines training for fire agencies, Tribe members, and other state agencies to provide an opportunity to learn about cultural fires and how to better support these traditional, effective and efficient practices.

Indigenous Tribes of California have had a relationship with fire for over 10,000 years and recognize its role and responsibility to support life on the land. These cultural burns are controlled, often smaller burns, that are led by Indigenous fire practitioners for the purpose of revitalizing plants, reducing wildfire risk, enhancing habitat, and broadly maintaining Indigenous lifeways and native ecosystems.

Similar to prescribed burns, cultural burns are an important tool used to minimize fire hazards and the likelihood of uncontrolled future wildfires that would have the potential to induce significant air quality impacts on the local community.

Smoke will be present in nearby communities on the day of the prescribed burn. The SLO County APCD will be working collaboratively with all involved agencies to ensure up-to-date air quality information is provided to the public.

Children, the elderly, and those that already have a respiratory condition are the most susceptible to the health impacts of smoke and should use caution if they smell smoke.

The burn is dependent on weather and air quality conditions that are favorable for smoke dispersal. If the conditions are not as desired, the burn may be rescheduled, or pushed later.

SLO County APCD will continue to closely monitor air pollution levels throughout the region. Visit the APCD website slocleanair.org/air-quality/air-forecasting-map.php to see current air quality conditions and forecasts for SLO County.

Sign up to receive air quality text messages through our AirAware text notification system at https://www.slocleanair.org/air-quality-alerts.php.