San Andreas, CA…Recent rains and cooler temperatures across the region have lowered the threat of wildfires allowing CAL FIRE’s Tuolumne-Calaveras Unit (TCU) to transition out of peak fire season effective Monday, December 4, 2023 at 8:00 am in Calaveras, Tuolumne, Eastern Stanislaus, and Eastern San Joaquin Counties.

TCU Unit Chief Nick Casci says “Although CAL FIRE burn permits are not required at this time, residents must take appropriate precautions to prevent sparking a wildfire. If residents choose to burn, it is their responsibility to maintain control of their fire.” Before you burn, ensure it’s a permissive burn day by contacting your local air pollution control district (APCD.)

CAL FIRE TCU will continue to maintain staffing to meet any potential threat, as well as maintaining the ability to strategically move resources to areas that remain at a higher threat level. CAL FIRE will also continue to monitor weather conditions closely and has the ability to increase staffing should weather conditions change or if there is a need to support wildfires or other emergencies throughout the State. Statewide in 2023, CAL FIRE and firefighters from many local and federal agencies responded to over 6,850 wildfires that burned 319,927 acres.

During the cooler winter months, CAL FIRE TCU will continue to actively focus efforts on fire prevention and fuels treatment activities as guided by the State’s Strategic Fire Plan and the local Unit fire plan. These will be done through public education, prescribed burns and various types of fuel reduction. These activities are aimed at reducing the impacts of large, damaging wildfires, public safety and improving overall forest health.

Residents are urged to still take precautions outdoors to prevent sparking a wildfire. The leading cause of wildfires in CAL FIRE TCU is from escaped landscape debris burning. Before you burn, ensure it is a permissive burn day by contacting your local APCD:
Calaveras County: 209/754-6600
Tuolumne County: 209/533-5598
San Joaquin and Stanislaus Counties: 877/429-2876

While burning, make sure that piles of landscape debris are a manageable size, provide clearance down to bare mineral soil around the burn pile and ensure that a responsible adult is in attendance at all times with a water source and a shovel. Furthermore, individuals choosing to debris burn can be held criminally responsible should their fire escape their control.

For more ways to burn safely visit www.ReadyForWildfire.org.

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