LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Effective May 1, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, or Cal Fire, will require a Cal Fire burn permit for any outdoor open burning in State Responsibility Areas within the counties of Colusa, Lake, Marin Napa, Solano, Sonoma and Yolo.
State Responsibility Areas are generally the unincorporated, rural, grass, brush and timber covered lands.
Individuals who conduct open burning must keep the fire size within the issued permit requirements at all times.
All open burning permit requirements include but may not be limited to:
– Burning only on permissive burn days as declared by the Lake County Air Quality Management District.
– Continual monitoring of the fire by an adult.
– Minimum clearance of at least 10 feet to bare mineral soil around the fire.
– Adequate control resources (tools, water, etc.).
– Avoiding burning on a windy days.
Failure to maintain control of an open fire will result in the permit being voided and the permit holder could be potentially held responsible for fire suppression cost, civil damages and fines.
Cal Fire burn permits are in addition to any air quality control district and local fire agency permits.
For information on complying with local burn requirements, contact the Lake County Air Quality Management District at telephone 707-263-7000 or visit the district online at http://www.lcaqmd.net/ .
Cal Fire Unit Chief Shana Jones and Marin County Fire Chief Jason Weber remind local residents that open burning requires local landowners to do their due diligence to ensure they are meeting all conditions set forth by authorizing agencies prior to conducting an open burn.
For more information on burn permits or wildland fire safety, residents can contact their local Cal Fire facility at www.fire.ca.gov or by visiting www.readyforwildfire.org .
An address-searchable map of the State Responsibility Area can be found at http://www.firepreventionfee.org/sraviewer_launch.php .