Pile Burning Banned Effective Today

Cal Fire - Tuolumne County Fire Department Logo

Sonora, CA — A reminder that effective 8am, burning will no longer be allowed within the CAL Fire Tuolumne-Calaveras jurisdiction.

CAL Fire had allowed burning up to this point to allow residents to clear needed defensible space before reaching the peak of the summer fire season. Since the beginning of January, CAL Fire reports that over 1,700 wildfires have burned 30,000 acres in the state. Over the past week, fires in the Mother Lode have ignited in locations such as Jamestown, La Grange, San Andreas, Columbia and Sonora. There was also a 70-plus acre vegetation fire two weeks ago in the Lake Tulloch area.

In order to better prepare a home for fire season, CAL Fire says 100 ft. of defensible space is needed around structures. You will now need to find an alternative to burning, such as chipping or hauling it to a biomass energy facility.

Campfires are still allowed within organized campgrounds, or on private property, if it is maintained in such a manner as to prevent its spread to the wildland.