Burn permit suspension lifted

CAL FIRE announced the burn permit suspension for the State Responsibility Areas of Nevada, Yuba, Placer and Sierra counties were lifted as of last Friday, Oct. 13. Following suit, the city of Auburn also announced residents could apply for a burn permit for the 2023-24 season starting Friday. CAL FIRE Unit Chief Brian Estes formally cancelled the burn permit suspension and advised that those possessing current and valid agriculture and residential burn permits can now resume burning on permissible days with a valid permit. Online burn permits are available at burnpermit.fire.ca.gov and are free of charge. For city of Auburn burn permits, visit https://forms.gle/i9Zwo8uX9AS6MnnJ9. Agriculture burns must be inspected by CAL FIRE before burning. Inspections may be required for burns other than agriculture burns. This can be verified by contacting your local Air Quality Management District. While there remains a threat of wildfires, current weather and vegetation conditions are conducive to safely utilize burning to reduce vegetation and create greater resilience to wildfires within communities and rural areas. CAL FIRE facilities will continue to be fully staffed until sufficient rainfall is received, allowing for the gradual reduction of fire control resources, while also prioritizing the ongoing fuels reduction initiatives. CAL FIRE asks property owners and residents to use caution while conducting debris or agriculture burns, follow all guidelines provided, and always maintain control of the fire. Individuals can be held civilly and/or criminally liable for allowing a fire to escape their control and/or burn onto neighboring property. Residents wishing to burn must verify it is a permissive burn day prior to burning. For burn day information, contact your local Air Pollution Control District (APCD) or Air Quality Management District (AQMD). To check in Placer County, call the APCD at 530-889-6868. Outside Auburn, residents can call toll-free at 800-998-2876. Placer's burn day website is www.placerair.org/burnday. Pile burning requirements include: • Only dry, vegetative material such as leaves, pine needles and tree trimmings may be burned. • The burning of trash, painted wood or other debris is not allowed. • Do NOT burn on windy days. • Piles should be no larger than four feet in diameter and in height. You can add to pile as it burns down. • Clear 10-foot down to bare soil around your piles. • Have a shovel and a water source nearby. • An adult is required to be always in attendance of the fire. Safe residential pile burning of forest residue by landowners is a crucial tool in reducing fire hazards, CAL FIRE officials stated in a press release. State, federal and local land management and fire agencies will also utilize this same window of opportunity to conduct prescribed burns aimed at improving forest health and resiliency on private and public lands. For more information on burning, visit the CAL FIRE website at www.fire.ca.gov.