CalFire issues statewide ban on open fires

By KCRA-TV

AUBURN – Increased wildfire activity and concern over the weather forecast led CalFire to suspend all burning permits on open fires throughout California.

There are currently 16 active wildfires throughout the state, according to CalFire’s website.

“Over 8,000 CalFire, local and federal firefighters are on the front lines. … With conditions being so dry, we need to take every step possible to prevent new wildfires from starting,” said Ken Pimlott, the state fire director.

The burn ban suspends all residential burn permits, forest management, hazard abatement and other industrial-type permitted burning within the 31 million acres of State Responsibility Area, read a CalFire news release.

“We are seeing increased fire activity earlier in the season. Historically, the next few months are when we experience our biggest fires,” said Daniel Berlant, a CalFire spokesman.

Campfires within organized campgrounds or on private property are allowed if they are in a designated campfire site that prevents fire spreading outside the site, the release said.