County Declares Fire Season, Suspends All Open Burning

Douse That Flame

Sonoma County Fire Chief Mark Aston announced today that Fire and Emergency Services has placed an open burning suspension into effect within unincorporated Sonoma County,

The suspension of burn permits is implemented this year, as it has been in past years, in response to the existence of high fire hazard conditions that create an extreme fire danger and poor air quality

Board of Supervisor Chairman David Rabbitt commented, “We encourage all residents of Sonoma County to comply with the permit suspensions to help reduce the risk of fire, which could be devastating given our very dry conditions.”

Experience has shown that suspending open burning is an effective way of preventing fire escapes, especially as California enters the summer season period of hotter and drier weather.  Although all fires cannot be prevented through a burn suspension, their numbers can be significantly reduced.

The suspension is consistent the CAL FIRE suspension for all permits for open burning within State Responsibility Area and Local Responsibility Areas under contract to CAL FIRE.

The burn suspension also helps prevent smoke impacts to the general public and large planned outdoors events by unrestricted vegetative waste burns. Burn restrictions will remain in effect until CAL FIRE declares the end of fire season.

Chief Aston stated, “The burn suspension includes all open burning, though agricultural, forest management, fire training and other industrial type burning may proceed if a CAL FIRE official has inspected the area and issued a permit.”

Campfires are allowed in designated campgrounds, or in established facilities on private property, with permission of the jurisdictional authority. Persons burning under special permit must also check with their regional air quality management district for additional regulations and requirements.

Anyone responsible for open burning without a valid written exemption from the burn suspension may be subject to a citation, fines, and the cost of the fire agency response to extinguish the fire.

The burn suspension allows a quick fire agency response to all fires observed after July 1, 2013 as they are assumed to be uncontrolled fires unless specifically authorized by an exemption for that time and place.

Aston will coordinate with the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) on lifting the burn suspension when conditions are safe. He acted in accordance with Sonoma County Code Section 13-71(d). The burn suspension applies to all unincorporated areas within Sonoma County.

For more information visit: CAL FIRE at: www.fire.ca.gov or Sonoma County Fire at: www.sonoma-county.org/fire/.