Northern California Fire Season Winding Down

Burn ban lifted in numerous CAL FIRE Units, National Forests and Bureau of Land Management lands.

Fire season has ended in North Central California.

TCU - Touloumne Calaveras Unit has lifted the suspension of burning on private lands. The unit includes Tuolumne and Calaveras counties in addition to eastern portions of Stanislaus and San Joaquin counties.
Burn permits are required:

• Burning is prohibited during high winds.
• Burn pile sizes must be a maximum of four-feet in diameter, all flammable material and vegetation within 10 feet of the outer edge of the pile must be cleared.
• Water supply must be close to the burn site.
  
• The person conducting the burn must also stay there with a shovel handy until the fire is out.
  
• The burning of trash, tires and plastic is prohibited.

Cal Fire officials say to also avoid burning piles of pine needles as they smolder and often spread dense smoke. "Even though the danger of large and damaging wild land fires has diminished, a fire can still escape,” said Mike Noonan, fire chief of the Tuolumne-Calaveras Unit. “It is critical that the person conducting the burn keep close watch on the fire at all times.
If the fire gets away, that person can be held liable for the damage and suppression costs.

MNU - Cal Fire's Mendocino Unit has declared that the 2009 burning suspension and fire season will end at 8 a.m. Friday. Cal Fire, in conjunction with the Mendocino County Fire Chief's Association and the Mendocino County Air Quality Management District, also rolls back a countywide suspension for door yard and large pile burning, Cal Fire stated.

BTU - Butte - A ban on residential burning will be lifted at 8 a.m. on Monday, Cal Fire-Butte County officials have announced. Burning is not permitted inside the Chico city limits at any time.
On land that Cal Fire is responsible for there were 245 fires in 2009, compared to 305 fires last year when 38,801 acres were burned. This year, 345 acres burned. The higher fire count last year can be attributed to the unprecedented lightning fires in 2008
Residents in the unincorporated areas of Butte County may burn without a permit until May 1, 2010, when permits will again be required.
Not all days are burn days, however, and residents must call the Butte County Air Quality Management District before burning at 896-2537 to check the status.

U.S. Forest Service

MNF - Mendocino National Forest: As of Wednesday, fire restrictions in Mendocino National Forest were lifted due to rain and lower temperatures. Those with a valid California Campfire Permit can have fires outside of designated campgrounds, including wilderness areas, Mendocino National Forest stated.

YNP - Yosemite National Park - Yosemite National Park announces the end of the fire season, October 16th, 2009.

Yosemite National Park experienced measurable precipitation earlier this week. The rainfall measurement, from park weather stations, varied from 9 inches of rain in the Mariposa Grove, to approximately 8 inches of rain in Wawona, to 5.5 inches of rain in Yosemite Valley. Measurable snow also fell at higher elevations.

Closure of the fire season occurs when there is a season ending precipitation event totaling 2 inches or more. Historically, there is a 90% chance that Yosemite will have a season ending weather event by October 31.

Helicopter 551, Yosemite’s helicopter that is contracted for the fire season, has now left the park. Additionally, seasonal fire personnel are completing their assignments and will soon also be leaving the park.

Forest Service Campfire Requirements:

• Clear flammable material for a minimum of five feet in all directions.
• Have a shovel handy.
• Have a responsible person in attendance.
• Extinguish the campfire with water, stirring the coals and ash, and feeling for heat or warm spots and continue until coals and ash are cold.
• Campfire permits are available free at any Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management of Cal Fire office.

Bureau of Land Management

The Bureau of Land Management has lifted fire restrictions on lands under jurisdiction of the Ukiah Field Office as well. Campfires can once again be had outside of developed campgrounds. Although fire dangers have decreased, it is still important to be careful with fire anytime, according to BLM fire mitigation speciali

To remain compliant with regulations, only clean, dry vegetative waste such as leaves, pine needles and yard clippings may be burned. Burning should be avoided on windy days, and debris piles should be no larger than four feet in diameter.

For more Cal Fire information: Cal Fire's web site at www.fire.ca.gov.