San Andreas- The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) Tuolumne-Calaveras Unit has announced effective at 8:00 a.m. on May 1st, 2025 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. Permits are issued free of charge.
While much of the vegetation appears “green”, you should never 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. Use extreme caution on windy days or choose not burn when it is 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…