MIDDLETOWN, Calif. — A collaborative of fire practitioners will be working together to conduct an ecocultural broadcast burn in the Middletown area, on the lands of Middletown Rancheria Band of Pomo Indians, on Tuesday, Oct. 22.

The burn date is subject to change due to weather or other conditions. Please check the Watch Duty app (app.watchduty.org) and the Tribal EcoRestoration Alliance, or TERA, Facebook and Instagram (@tribalecorestoration) for the most current information regarding this burn.

This burn is taking place as part of the Lake EcoCultural Cal-TREX, a prescribed and cultural fire training exchange led by the Tribal EcoRestoration Alliance in partnership with agencies, tribes and community organizations including Middletown Rancheria Band of Pomo Indians, Cal Fire and the Watershed Research and Training Center.

The goals of the burn include to support cultural revitalization, improve the health of oak woodlands and grasslands, enhance wildlife habitat, provide capacity building and training around beneficial burning, and reduce fuel loading and increase wildfire resilience.

This is a fully permitted burn and will be led by a coalition of TERA and other Lake EcoCultural Cal-TREX partners. If the conditions, such as weather or vegetation are not conducive for burning, the burn will be rescheduled.

Ignitions are anticipated to begin mid-morning with firing operations concluding by late afternoon. People traveling near the burn area may see smoke on the day of the burn. In the event the public smells smoke, they are urged to take precautions and use common sense to reduce any harmful health effects by limiting outdoor activities.

Local residents are advised to close windows and doors to prevent smoke from entering their homes. There is potential for some residual smoke overnight and into the following days. The burn area will continue to be patrolled until all heat has been extinguished.