San Andreas, CA…CAL FIRE Burn Permits Required May 1st in Calaveras, San Joaquin, Stanislaus and Tuolumne Counties. The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) Tuolumne-Calaveras Unit has announced effective at 8:00 a.m. on May 1st, 2023 all hazard reduction burning will require a permit within State Responsibility Areas of Tuolumne County, Calaveras County, Eastern Stanislaus County and Eastern San Joaquin County.

Burn permits must now be obtained online at https://burnpermit.fire.ca.gov/. Applicants
can access the website to obtain a burn permit which involves watching a short educational video and submitting an application. The process provides the necessary information needed to conduct the burn safely, while minimizing the chance for fire escape. Permits must be in possession either by printed copy or digitally. Permits are valid beginning May 1st of each year and require annual renewal. Burn permits acquired prior to May 1st will require a new application on May 1st. Permits are issued free of charge.

An abundance of precipitation was received throughout the unit this winter however, this does not mean you should let your fire safety guard down when choosing to conduct a debris burn. Always follow the terms of your permit including 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. Failure to follow these simple precautions may result in a citation and fines.

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

For further information regarding residential burning or other fire safety tips visit your local CAL FIRE Station or go to www.readyforwildfire.org.

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