Cal Fire Suspends Burn Permits in County

Cal Fire said it will suspend all residential outdoor burn permits across San Diego County at 8 a.m. on May 1. (kpbs.org) The order covers residential burning of landscape debris, including branches and leaves, across the county’s State Responsibility Areas. (kpbs.org) Cal Fire said significant vegetation growth, rising temperatures, low humidity and seasonal winds pushed officials to suspend permits before peak summer conditions arrive. (kpbs.org) (sandiegouniontribune.com) Tony Mecham, Cal Fire’s unit chief and fire chief in San Diego County, said the agency is seeing “earlier and more intense fire seasons.” (kpbs.org) Statewide, firefighters have responded to about 840 wildfires since Jan. 1, according to Cal Fire. (kpbs.org) The suspension does not shut down every type of fire. Cal Fire said it may issue restricted temporary permits for essential public health and safety reasons. (kpbs.org) Agricultural, land-management, fire-training and other industrial burns can still move forward if a Cal Fire official inspects the site and issues a special permit. (kpbs.org) Campfires in organized campgrounds or on private property are not covered by the suspension, though Cal Fire said residents still need a campfire permit. (kpbs.org) Cal Fire urged residents to keep at least 100 feet of defensible space around homes, clear dead vegetation and use chipping or green-waste disposal instead of burning yard debris. (kpbs.org) The May 1 cutoff puts San Diego County into seasonal burn restrictions weeks before summer, as Cal Fire tries to reduce new ignitions from routine debris burning. (kpbs.org)