Morgan Hill – Effective Friday, November 11, 2022 at 8:00 a.m. the burn permit suspension in Santa Clara, Alameda, Contra Costa Counties and the western portion of Stanislaus and San Joaquin Counties will be lifted.
CAL FIRE Santa Clara Unit Chief George Huang 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. This can be verified by contacting your local Air Quality Management District.
Cooler temperatures, higher humidity’s and the chance of winter weather have helped to begin to diminish the threat of wildfire. Property owners and residents are asked to use caution while conducting debris or agriculture burns, follow all guidelines provided, and maintain control of the fire at all times. Individuals can be held civilly and/or criminally liable for allowing a fire to escape their control and/or burn onto neighboring property.
Residents wishing to burn MUST verify it is a permissive burn day prior to burning. In the San Francisco Bay Area, you can contact the Bay Area Quality Management District at 415-771-6000 or www.baaqmd.gov. For information in Stanislaus and San Joaquin counties contact the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District at 800-665-2876 or www.valleyair.org.
Pile Burning Requirements
- Only dry, natural vegetative material such as leaves, pine needles and tree trimmings may be burned. • The burning of trash, painted wood or other debris is not allowed.
- Do NOT burn on windy days.
- Piles should be no larger than four feet in diameter and in height. You can add to pile as it burns down. • Clear a 10-foot diameter down to bare soil around your piles.
- Have a shovel and a water source nearby.
- An adult is required to be in attendance of the fire at all times.
Safe residential pile burning of forest residue by landowners is a crucial tool in reducing fire hazards. State, Federal, and Local land management and fire agencies will also be utilizing this same window of opportunity to conduct prescribed burns aimed at improving forest health and resiliency on private and public lands.
For more information on burning, visit the CAL FIRE website at www.fire.ca.gov.