MARIPOSA — Effective Tuesday, Oct. 26, at 8 a.m., the burn permit suspension in the State Responsibility Areas of Madera, Mariposa and Merced Counties will be lifted. CAL FIRE MMU Unit Chief Mike van Loben Sels is formally cancelling the burn permit suspension and advises that those possessing current and valid agriculture and residential burn permits can now resume burning on permissible burn days.
Cooler temperatures, higher humidity’s and winter weather have helped to begin to diminish the threat of wildfire. 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. For burn day information call 209-966-1200 prior to burning.
Eastern Madera County: San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control Permits are required.
Permits are available at all CAL FIRE stations during normal business hours.
Mariposa County: Contact Mariposa Air Pollution Control District (APCD) for permit
requirements at 209-966-2220.
Merced County: No residential debris burning is allowed. For Ag burning contact the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control at 877-429-2876.
Pile Burning Requirements
• Only dry, natural vegetative material such as leaves, pine needles and tree trimmings may be burned
• The burning of trash, painted wood or other debris is not allowed.
• Do NOT burn on windy days
• Piles should be no larger than four feet in diameter and in height. You can add to pile as it burns down
• Clear a 10 foot diameter down to bare soil around your piles
• Have a shovel and a water source nearby
• An adult is required to be in attendance of the fire at all times
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 also 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.
