April 30, 2021 - San Andreas – As drought conditions continue to increase fire danger in the region, CAL FIRE Tuolumne -Calaveras Unit has suspended all burn permits for outdoor open residential burning within the State Responsibility Area of Tuolumne County, Calaveras County, Eastern Stanislaus County and Eastern San Joaquin County. This suspension takes effect at 8:00 AM on Monday May 3, 2021 and bans all residential outdoor burning of landscape debris including branches and leaves for all residents.

Since January 1, 2021, CAL FIRE and firefighters across the state have already responded to over 1,354 wildfires that have burned nearly 2,219 acres.

TCU Unit Chief Nick Casci says “We are experiencing dry conditions and fire behavior that would normally be expected later in the season. Although debris burning is a useful tool to reduce flammable vegetation, the conditions we are experiencing in the Tuolumne-Calaveras Unit have reached the point where debris burning poses an unacceptable risk of starting an unwanted fire.”

CAL FIRE is asking residents to ensure that they are prepared for wildfires including maintaining a minimum of 100 feet of Defensible Space around every home.

Here are some tips to help prepare your home and property:
 Clear all dead or dying vegetation 100 feet around all structures.
 Landscape with fire resistant/drought tolerant plants
 Find alternative ways to dispose of landscape debris like chipping. For additional information on preparing for and preventing wildfires visit www.ReadyForWildfire.org.

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Source: CAL FIRE