Burn permits required in Sonoma County

The burn permit suspension in Sonoma County will be lifted on Friday, Nov. 1 at 8 a.m. by CalFire, and permits will be required to burn.

Anyone possessing current and valid agriculture and residential burn permits can resume burning on permissible burn days. Burn piles or broadcast burns must be inspected by CalFire, when located in the State Responsibility Area, or your local Fire District in the Local Responsibility, and/or Air Quality District prior to burning until the end of the peak fire season per the Sonoma County Fire Safety Ordinance.

Cooler temperatures, higher humidity and the chance of winter weather have helped to begin to diminish the threat of wildfire. Residents are asked to use caution while conducting burns, follow all guidelines, and to 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 should contact their local Fire District and CalFire prior to any burning.

Residents must verify it is a permissive burn day prior to burning. Contact your local Air Quality Management District to ensure it is a permissive burn day.

• Bay Area Air Quality Management District, (415) 771-6000 
• Northern Sonoma County Air Pollution Control District, (707) 433-5911  
• Visit http://sonomacounty.ca.gov/Air-Quality to see air district boundaries.

Pile burning requirements:

• Only dry, natural vegetative material such as leaves, pine needles and tree trimmings may be burned.
• Burning 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 a 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 burning of vegetation is a crucial tool in reducing fire hazards. When conditions allow, state, federal and local fire and land management agencies will be conducting prescribed burns aimed at improving forest health on private and public lands.

For more information on burning, visit the CAL FIRE website at www.fire.ca.gov.

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Contact:
Steve Mosiurchak, Fire Marshal
(707) 565-2361