Commencing May 1, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) and Marin County Fire will require a burn permit for any outdoor open burning in State Responsibility Areas (SRA) in Sonoma and other north bay counties.
State Responsibility Areas are generally the unincorporated, rural, grass, brush and timber covered lands.
Individuals who conduct open burning must keep the fire size within the issued permit requirements, at all times. All open burning permit requirements include continual monitoring of the fire by an adult, a minimum clearance of at least 10 feet to bare mineral soil around the fire, adequate control resources (tools, water, etc.) and do not burn on a windy day.
Failure to maintain control of an open fire will result in the permit being voided and the permit holder charged with the possibility of being responsible for fire suppression cost, civil damages and fines.
CAL FIRE burn permits are in addition to any air quality control district and local fire agency permits. CAL FIRE chiefs remind residents, “Open burning requires local landowners, to do their due diligences to insure they are meeting all conditions set forth by authorizing agencies prior to conducting an open burn.”
For more information on burn permits or wildland fire safety, contact the local CAL FIRE facility www.fire.ca.gov
— submitted by Will Powers, CAL FIRE
