LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – On Monday, Jan. 20, the Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit of the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, or Cal Fire, will suspend all open burning within the state responsibility area in Sonoma, Lake, Napa and portions of Colusa, Solano and Yolo counties.
The suspension also includes the unincorporated areas of Napa County protected by Cal Fire.
The agency said that experience has shown that open burning suspensions effectively aid in preventing fire escapes and significantly reduces the risk and occurrence of large fires.
This is especially important as these counties are experiencing record breaking low cumulative rainfall, low humidity, dry fuel moisture levels and increased fire activity.
Agriculture, land management, fire training and other industrial type burning may proceed if a Cal Fire officials inspects the burn site and issues a Cal Fire LE-5 Permit to specifically exempt an open burn from this suspension.
Campfires are allowed in designated campgrounds or in established facilities on private property with landowner permission and jurisdictional authority.
Persons burning under a Cal Fire LE-5 Permit must also check with their regional air quality management district for additional regulations and requirements.
Lake County Air Quality Management can be reached at http://www.lcaqmd.net/ or 707-263-7000.
Cal Fire encourages the public to assist with the mission of preventing unwanted destructive fires in communities and throughout the state.
For more information about fire safety or prescribed fire and its benefits visit the Cal Fire Web site, www.fire.ca.gov , or call your local Cal Fire facility.