San Andreas, CA…Sunday, May 1, 2022, at 8:00 AM the Tuolumne-Calaveras Unit (TCU) of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) will require burning permits within State Responsibility Areas of Tuolumne County, Calaveras County, Eastern Stanislaus County and Eastern San Joaquin County.

As of April 22nd, statewide there has been 1,301 wildland fires year to date which have burned 6,441 acres, an increase of over 2,100 acres burned year to date from 2021. Locally approximately 2.4″ of rain to date in calendar year 2022 in the same geographic region that received approximately 9.3″ of rain during the same time period in 2021. Unit Chief Nick Casci reminds community members, “Debris removal, including pile burning, is a valuable tool in creating and maintaining your defensible space when conducted in a safe manner. Responsible burning practices, as required by your burn permit, are fire safe.”

Burn permit terms include limiting pile size to a maximum of four feet by four feet (four feet in diameter, and four feet high) and clearing down to bare mineral soil 10 feet from the outer edges of burn piles. Outdoor burning may be done ONLY on permissive burn days. Remember, burn day status is determined by air quality and how quickly smoke will disperse. Therefore, many permissible burn days are windy. Never burn when it’s windy, even if it is a permissible burn day. Remain in attendance of your burn project and have tools and water close by to suppress any escape from your burning operation.

Burn permits are available at: https://burnpermit.fire.ca.qov/apply-for-a-permit/. The website is the preferred method of obtaining a permit. Applicants will watch a three-minute educational video, fill out an online application, print the permit and once signed the permit will be valid.

Property Owners requiring an alternate means of obtaining a permit are asked to call our headquarters office during normal business hours (Monday to Friday 8 a.m.- 5 p.m.) at 209-754-3831 for assistance.

It is your responsibility to check burn day status by calling your local Air Pollution Control District with jurisdiction over your area.

Calaveras County: (209) 754-6600 Tuolumne County: (209) 533-5598 San Joaquin and Stanislaus Counties: (877) 429-2876