CAL FIRE Lifts Statewide Outdoor Burn Ban

Monday, October 22, 2012

CAL FIRE Lifts Statewide Outdoor Burn Ban

Local Bans Still in Effect

Sacramento – California’s first significant rainfall of the season, combined with cooler temperatures, has allowed CAL FIRE to lift the statewide burn ban effective Monday, October 22, 2012. CAL FIRE had suspended all residential burn permits and various types of outdoor burning within the 31 million acres of State Responsibility Area on August 15, 2012.

While the statewide burn ban is lifted, local burn bans set by CAL FIRE’s 21 operational units may still be in effect. Each of the 21 CAL FIRE unit chiefs will determine when local weather conditions will allow for safe outdoor burning. Following the lifting of local burn bans, burn permits may be required in some areas so residents should always check with their local fire station and air quality district before burning.

“While the threat of wildfires has not diminished completely, many areas will be receiving enough rainfall to allow homeowners to safely burn outdoors once their local burn bans are lifted,” said Chief Ken Pimlott, CAL FIRE Director. “It is still important that residents monitor the weather closely, as a warming trend could increase the fire threat.”

This fire season has kept firefighters across the State very busy as fire activity has been significantly higher this year. To date, there have been over 5,500 wildfires in CAL FIRE’s jurisdiction that have burned nearly 130,000 acres, compared to last year when there were 4,100
wildfires during the same time period that charred over 55,000 acres. Even with the cooler weather, there is still the possibility of wildfires and CAL FIRE remains prepared to respond.

For more information on the Burn Ban and tips on safe burning visit the CAL FIRE website at www.fire.ca.gov.
CFN - California Fire News 2012

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How fires get their names

Every year in California thousands of wildfires start throughout the state. In most cases, the dispatch center sending the initial resources to a wildland fire will designate a name for the fire, but the first on scene engine or fire official can also name the incident. Fires are usually named for the area in which they start – a geographical location, local landmark, street, lake, mountain, peak, etc. Quickly naming the fire provides responding fire resources with an additional locater, and allows fire officials to track and prioritize incidents by name. For example during the Southern California Fire Siege of 2003, the largest wildland fire in California history, the Cedar Fire in San Diego County, was named after the Cedar Creek Falls area where it started. The destructive Old Fire, which burned during the same time period in San Bernardino County, was named after the road along which it started - Old Waterman Canyon Road.

CAL FIRE is the largest fire department in California and the second largest fire department in the United States. CDF - CAL FIRE Firefighters answer the call more than 300,000 times a year. CAL FIRE Firefighters make up the fire department for 30 of our 58 counties in California and more than 100 local communities. We serve as the incident command during many of California’s most serious disasters. CAL FIRE Firefighters respond to many various types and forms of calls ranging from structural fires, to auto accidents, to earthquakes, to floods, to the spilling of hazardous materials, to every conceivable disaster; CAL FIRE answer's the calls. CAL FIRE is the largest fire department in California and the second largest fire department in the United States . CAL FIRE firefighters protect 33 million acres of State Responsibility Area (SRA). We have over 4,000 members within CAL FIRE and CAL FIRE is associated with the California Professional Firefighters (CPF) and the International Association of Firefighters (IAFF).

CFN - CALIFORNIA FIRE NEWS - CAL FIRE NEWS

Monday, October 22, 2012