Fire season waning? Cal Fire lifts ban on burn permits, more rain in the forecast

Air Attack Base still staffed in Ukiah

In what is typically a hopeful sign for those anxiously awaiting the end of another fire season, the Mendocino Unit of CAL Fire has lifted the ban on burn pile permits.

According to an agency press release, “CAL Fire Mendocino Unit Chief George Gonzalez is formally cancelling the burn permit suspension and advises that those possessing current and valid agriculture and residential burn permits can now resume burning on permissible burn days. Agriculture burns must be inspected by CAL Fire prior to burning until the end of the peak fire season. Inspections may be required for burns other than agriculture burns.”

As of Tuesday, CAL Fire still had planes and personnel onhand at the Air Attack Base in Ukiah, and staff there said there was no definitive date on when they would leave the base, because the need for them was “weather- dependent.”

As for when the weather would be wet enough to ease fire concerns, the National Weather Service office in Eureka reported that “a widespread band of rain with amounts closer to an inch is expected late Friday and may extend as far south as southern Mendocino,” and that “additional precipitation- producing systems are lining up next week which will finally bring an end to the threat of large and fast-moving fires for much of ( Northwestern California).”

For those needing burn permits, they are available online from CAL Fire at https://burnpermit.fire.ca.gov/

CALFire adds that its permits are “only for residents who live in the State Responsibility Area (SRA), or where CAL Fire has jurisdictional authority, (and) it is the responsibility of the land owner to check with local fire agencies to determine any additional permits that might be required and if there are any additional burning restrictions for their area.”

Burn permits can also be obtained by mail, by calling CAL Fire Mendocino Unit Howard Forest Headquarters in Willits, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, at (707) 459-7414.

All CAL Fire Mendocino Unit offices are closed to public access, until further notice, to prevent the public and its personnel from unnecessary exposure to Covid-19.

Residents are also advised to call the Mendocino County Air Quality Management District at ( 707) 463- 4391 before they burn “to confirm that you have all the required burn permits and to ensure it is a permissive burn day.

Burning can only be done on permissive burn days and is prohibited on non-burn days.”