Burn permits for outdoor residential burning will be suspended in eastern San Joaquin County starting Wednesday, Cal Fire said.
The ban, which will also take effect in Calaveras, Tuolumne and East Stanislaus counties, will temporarily end outdoor burning of landscape debris, such as branches and leaves, in state-maintained areas of each county.
“As the weather continues to become warmer and drier, lower and mid-elevation areas are experiencing conditions conducive to the spread of unwanted fires,” said unit chief Nick Casci. “Residents can continue to work on their defensible space by using alternative disposal methods such as shredding or removing green waste through the resources offered in their specific county.”
According to Cal Fire, warming temperatures and winds are causing the area’s bountiful annual grass crop to quickly dry out. So far, firefighters across California have responded to more than 1,253 wildfires in 2024 alone.
The suspension of permits for burning waste on residential estates does not apply to campfires within organized campgrounds or on private property, Cal Fire said, as long as it is maintained in a manner that prevents spread into wild areas. Campfire permits can be obtained at local fire stations or online at PreventWildfireCA.org.
Special permits can still be obtained for industrial burning, such as in agriculture, land management and fire training, after a Cal Fire official inspects the fire site.
In addition to the changes to the residential burning permit, Cal Fire is asking residents to maintain a minimum of 100 feet of defensible space around all structures on their property and to be prepared for possible evacuations. Creating a defensible space requires clearing all dead or dying vegetation at least 100 feet around all structures. Cal Fire recommends landscaping with fire-resistant plans and non-flammable ground cover, in addition to finding alternative ways to dispose of landscape debris.
