LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection – or Cal Fire – has announced burn permits are required effective Tuesday, May 1.

Burn permits are required for any type of open burning in the State Responsibility Areas (SRA) of Sonoma, Lake, Napa, Solano, Yolo and Colusa counties.

State Responsibility Areas are generally the unincorporated, rural, grass, brush and timber covered lands of California.

Cal Fire burn permits requirements are in addition to any air quality control district and local fire agency permits.

It is the responsibility of anyone planning to have a control burn to ensure they meet all permit requirements.  

Lake County has a countywide ban on open burning beginning May 1.  Some open burning exemptions may be granted for agricultural burning.  Contact the Lake County Air Quality District at 707-263-7000 for burn ban information in Lake County.  

Anyone conducting open burning must adhere to all burning regulations on their permit.  Failure to maintain control of a fire may lead to the permit holder/ landowner being held responsible for fire suppression cost, fines and civil damages.    

Basic requirements include continual monitoring of the open fire by a responsible adult, at least 10 foot clearance to bare mineral soil around the burn pile and adequate control resources (tools, water, etc.).  Opening burning should not be conducted when winds exceed 10 miles per hour.

Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit Chief Tim Streblow reminds local residents to be mindful regarding open burning.

“It will only take a few weeks of warm weather and spring winds to dry out the grasses and transition us into peak fire season,” Streblow said.

Streblow encourages property owners living in the SRA to maintain a defensible space around their homes and outbuildings.

Cal Fire's mandatory state law requires 100 feet of defensible space around all structures.