Cal Fire suspends burning permits Wednesday due to extreme heat warnings | News

The suspension effectively bans the outdoor burning of yard waste such as branches and leaves within the state jurisdiction of Cal Fire TCU, which includes all of Tuolumne and Calaveras counties and eastern San Joaquin and Stanislaus counties.

Cal Fire announced the fire ban Friday morning, shortly before the National Weather Service issued an extreme heat warning Tuesday through Thursday for an area that includes the Mother Lode.

Starting Friday, high temperatures in Sonora are expected to reach 91 degrees on Tuesday, 96 degrees on Wednesday and 97 degrees on Thursday.

Firefighters across the state have battled more than 1,250 wildfires since Jan. 1, Cal Fire said Friday as it announced the suspension of fire permits. The agency continues to urge residents to keep at least 100 feet of shelter space around their home and any other structures on their property.

The agency offers the following tips for preparing homes and properties for possible wildfires:

• Remove all dead and/or dying vegetation within at least 100 feet of all structures.

• Landscaping with fire-resistant plants and non-combustible ground cover.

• Find alternative ways to dispose of landscape waste, such as chipping or transporting it to a biomass or green waste facility.

Cal Fire may continue to issue limited, temporary burn permits when there is good cause for public health and safety. Agricultural, land management, fire drills and other industrial fires may also continue if an agency official inspects the burn site and issues a special permit.

The suspension of fire permits does not apply to campfires at organized campgrounds or on private property. Campfire permits can be obtained from local fire stations or online at www.preventwildfireca.org.

For more information on creating defensible space and preparing for wildfires, as well as tips on fire prevention, visit www.readyforwildfire.org.