Cal Fire suspends burning permits in eastern San Joaquin County

Burn permits for outdoor residential fires will be suspended in eastern San Joaquin County starting Wednesday, Cal Fire said.

The ban, which will also go into effect in Calaveras, Tuolumne and Eastern Stanislaus counties, will temporarily end all residential outdoor burning of landscape debris, such as branches and leaves, in areas of each county maintained by the state .

“As the weather continues to become hotter and drier, lower and mid-elevation areas are entering conditions conducive to the spread of unwanted fires,” said Unit Chief Nick Casci. “Residents can continue to work on their defensible space using alternative disposal methods such as shredding or green waste disposal through resources offered in their specific county.”

Warming temperatures and winds are quickly drying out the region's bountiful annual grass crop, according to Cal Fire. So far, California firefighters have responded to more than 1,253 wildfires in 2024 alone.

The suspension of burning permits for residential landscape debris does not apply to campfires in organized campgrounds or on private property, Cal Fire said, as long as they are maintained in a manner that prevents spread to wild lands. Campfire permits can be obtained at local fire stations or online at PreventWildfireCA.org.

Special permits can still be obtained for industrial-type burns, such as in agriculture, land management and fire training, after a Cal Fire official has inspected the burn site.

In addition to changes to residential burn permits, Cal Fire is asking residents to maintain a minimum of 100 feet of defensible space around all buildings on their property and to prepare for possible evacuations. Creating defensible space requires clearing all dead or dying vegetation for a minimum of 100 feet around all structures. Cal Fire recommends landscaping with fire-resistant plans and non-flammable ground cover, in addition to finding other ways to remove landscape debris.