Cal Fire suspends burning permits in Napa County

The state fire protection agency announced the permit suspension on Monday. The restriction applies to the outdoor burning of waste such as tree limbs and leaves in residential areas in the state jurisdiction of Napa, Sonoma, Solano, Yolo and Colusa counties. (Lake County has had an annual burn ban in place since May 1.)

In a press release, Cal Fire cited the impacts of Northern California’s second consecutive wet winter, followed by high temperatures and winds that dried out the resulting surplus of flammable grass.

The agency has reported 68 wildfires since Jan. 1, more than half of them in the past three weeks – including the Crystal Fire, which broke out north of St. Helena on Wednesday and spread to an area of ​​60 acres.

During the suspension, Cal Fire may issue temporary burn permits when good cause exists for public health and safety reasons. Burning for agricultural purposes, land management, fire drills, and industrial purposes may occur if a Cal Fire official inspects the burn site and issues a special permit.

The fire permit suspension does not apply to campfires at organized campgrounds or on private property. Campfires may be allowed if they are maintained in a manner that prevents flames from spreading into the wilderness. Campfire permits are available at local fire stations or online at PreventWildfireCA.org.

For tips on wildfire prevention, as well as information on preparing for wildfires and creating protected areas around homes, visit readyforwildfire.org.