Cultural burn may cause smoke near Cuesta Grade
Burn is part of a collaborative vegetation management effort
Burn is part of a collaborative vegetation management effort– Community members may see smoke near Highway 101 and experience traffic delays near the Cuesta Grade on June 8 during a planned cultural burn at Miossi Open Space.
The cultural burn will take place near Highway 101 at Miossi Open Space at the base of the Cuesta Grade.
The burn is being hosted by the yak titʸu titʸu yak tiłhini Northern Chumash Tribe with support from Cal Fire San Luis Obispo County Fire Department, the City of San Luis Obispo Fire Department, and the San Luis Obispo County Air Pollution Control District.
Officials said the burn is part of a collaborative vegetation management effort that follows previous cultural burns at Johnson Ranch Open Space. The effort is being incorporated into broader regional sustainability initiatives focused on environmental sustainability and resiliency.
Smoke will be present in nearby communities during the prescribed burn. The San Luis Obispo County Air Pollution Control District will work with participating agencies to provide updated air quality information to the public.
Officials said children, older adults, and people with respiratory conditions are most susceptible to the effects of smoke and should use caution if they smell smoke.
The burn is dependent on weather and air quality conditions that allow for appropriate smoke dispersal. If conditions are not favorable, officials may reschedule the burn.
According to organizers, Indigenous tribes in California have maintained a cultural relationship with fire for more than 10,000 years and use cultural burns to revitalize plants, reduce wildfire risk, enhance habitat, and maintain Indigenous lifeways and native ecosystems.
Officials said cultural burns are controlled burns led by Indigenous fire practitioners. Similar to prescribed burns, they are used to reduce fire hazards and lower the likelihood of future wildfires that could create significant air quality impacts.
The City of San Luis Obispo supports cultural burns as part of its Sustainable SLO initiative, a regional effort focused on environmental sustainability and resiliency. The initiative includes preserving natural areas, reducing climate-related risks, reducing pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, conserving water, and promoting sustainable tourism, business practices, and community engagement.
The San Luis Obispo County Air Pollution Control District will continue monitoring air pollution levels throughout the region. Current air quality conditions and forecasts are available at slocleanair.org/air-quality/air-forecasting-map.php. Residents can sign up for air quality text alerts through the AirAware notification system at slocleanair.org/air-quality-alerts.php.
