Dear Rural Community Fire Safe Councils,

Please see the attached News Release regarding the previous suspension of burn permits. As of 8:00am this morning (01/04/21) the Burn Permit suspension has been lifted by Fire Chief Tony Mecham.

Key points from the attached News Release to remember:

  • Valid agriculture and residential burn permits can now resume burning on permissible burn days.
  • Agriculture burns must be inspected by CAL FIRE prior to burning, and inspections may be required for residential burns as well.
    • This can be verified by contacting your local CAL FIRE station.
  • CAL FIRE burn permits are required for all agriculture and residential burning.
  • Property owners and residents are asked to use caution while conducting debris or agriculture burns, follow all guidelines provided, and maintain control of the fire at all times.
    • 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 and record their intention to burn by contacting their local CAL FIRE station.

Safe residential pile burning of forest residue by landowners is a crucial tool in reducing fire hazards. State, Federal and Local land management and fire agencies will be utilizing 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.

As always, please help us to get this flyer posted around our rural communities. It’s time to begin our defensible space clearing and preparing for the 2021 Fire Season, but we want to ensure everyone is doing it safely. For helpful tips, please go to the CAL FIRE Ready For Wildfire app or their website. Your local Fire Safe Councils can also provide information on free chipping, clean-up days and more.

Wishing all of you a Happy New Year!

Bob Uribe and Teresa Greenhalgh

Community Risk Reduction

San Diego County Fire Authority

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