Amid climbing temperatures and the rise of fire activity throughout Northern California, CAL FIRE has moved to suspend burn permits in several counties. According to their social media announcement, residents in Santa Clara, Alameda, Contra Costa, and parts of Stanislaus and San Joaquin counties will no longer be allowed to engage in the outdoor burning of landscape debris.
With the suspension effective as of yesterday, the halt on burn permits encapsulates the burning of branches and leaves, the kind of activities that could inadvertently contribute to wildfire risks. CAL FIRE SCU stresses the importance of wildfire preparedness and suggests residents focus instead on creating defensible space around their properties. Emphasized in the announcement, homeowners should clear dead vegetation away from their homes to create a buffer zone of at least 100 feet.
Effective today, Monday, June 16, 2025, all burn permits in the SRA will be suspended in Alameda, Contra Costa, Santa Clara, & western San Joaquin & Stanislaus counties.See news release for details.https://t.co/ZKzCt28BHv#CALFIRESCU#[email protected]/bJzkutnIt4
— CAL FIRE SCU (@calfireSCU) June 16, 2025
Despite the restrictions, regulated campfires within designated campgrounds or private properties will still be permitted, given they’re maintained properly to prevent spread. Under certain conditions, as set forth by Public Resources Code section 4423.2, limited burning permits may be authorized by CAL FIRE for essential reasons of public health and safety. Such permits would allow for agricultural burning, fire training, and other specific industrial burnings after a CAL FIRE official’s inspection…