MOUNTAIN COMMUNITIES — Attention local residents, if you are taking the opportunity to conduct safe residential pile burning, please refer to the attached guidance related to timing and notifications of your burn. We know this is a great way to reduce fire hazards around your home and want to ensure you have the best information on hand.
Image by Claire Rush.
For more details regarding residential burning or other fire safety tips, please visit www.readyforwildfire.org.
Pile burning is an effective tool for reducing flammable vegetation on the landscape and creating defensible space around your home.
Below is a step-by-step list to help
1. Make sure there are no current burn restrictions in your area (contact your local fire department or go to the links listed below).
Residential pile burning is permissible in El Portal, Wawona, Foresta and Aspen Valley.
No residential pile burning is allowed in Yosemite Valley.
2. Prior to burning, verify it is a permissible burn day by calling your county burn line:
- Mariposa County: 209-966-1200
- Tuolumne County: 209-533-5598
3. Prior to burning notify Yosemite’s Emergency Communications Center and be prepared to give your name and address.
- Yosemite Emergency Communications Center: 209-379-1999
4. Use caution while pile burning. Follow these burn pile requirements:
- Maximum pile size is 4 feet in diameter.
- Clear all flammable material within 10 feet of outer edge of burn pile.
- An adult must remain in attendance with a shovel until fire is dead out.
- Keep five-gallon water supply or charged hose at the burning site.
- No burning shall be undertaken when wind speeds or gusts in excess of 5 mph are present or forecast.
- Burn vegetation debris only.
5. After your pile(s) is completely out, notify the Yosemite Emergency Communications Center.
If you have questions regarding residential pile burning in Yosemite, please contact your local fire station:
- Wawona: 209-375-9515
- El Portal: 209-379-1903
- Yosemite Valley: 209-372-0416
If you live in an area or community adjacent to the park boundary that falls under State Response Area you may need to obtain a free burn permit from CalFire by going to www.burnpermit.fire.ca.gov.
El Portal, Wawona, Foresta, and Aspen Valley are communities within the park that may pile burn and do not need to acquire a burn permit (permits may be required in the future).
Residents in Yosemite West are encouraged to notify the Yosemite Emergency Communications Center and follow the steps above.
Yosemite National Park Fire Information & Restrictions
Mariposa County Air Pollution Control District
Tuolumne County Air Pollution Control District
If your burn pile looks like this, it’s too big!
