MENDOCINO COUNTY, Calif. – The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection’s Mendocino Unit will be conducting an approximately 600-acre broadcast burn this week.

The burn is planned for Wednesday, Nov. 11, through Friday, Nov. 13, weather and air quality conditions permitting.

The prescribed burn area is located south of the community of Yorkville, near Upper Rancheria Creek in the southeastern portion of Mendocino County, south of Highway 128 and north of Cloverdale. Aircraft and smoke will be visible in the area.

The prescribed burning being done under this Vegetation Management Program project will be conducted under specific climatic conditions to ensure control and minimize air quality and other impacts.

The primary goal of this prescribed burn is to reintroduce fire as a natural element of the ecosystem.

A second goal is to improve wildlife habitat by inducing new shoots from sprouting species to increase forage production, with islands of unburned fuel left within the burned area to provide shelter for small mammals.

A third goal is to reduce overall vegetation to decrease the chance of catastrophic wildfires in the future.

The burn will be conducted under very tight restrictions for the personal safety of firefighters and area residents.

If there are any indications that the burn cannot be conducted in a safe manner, such as high winds or local fire activity, the burn will be canceled.

Cal Fire reminds all residents that their safety is of the utmost concern.

For prescribed burning notifications, residents are encouraged to follow the Cal Fire Mendocino Unit on Twitter and on Facebook.