California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
Amador-El Dorado Unit

CONTACT: Teri Mizuhara, Fire Prevention Specialist II, 530.708.2724
RELEASE DATE: April 19, 2012

Residential Burn Permits Required May 1st

Camino - Unit Chief Kelly Keenan of the Amador-El Dorado Unit of CAL FIRE wants to remind everyone that "last year 23% of our wildland fires in Amador and El Dorado counties were from residential landscape debris piles that escaped the control of the person in charge causing wildland fires. To reduce your risk of causing a wildland fire, take steps today to safely burn your debris piles when the ground is still damp from the recent storms. I strongly encourage everyone to get an early start now when it is safe to burn the piles versus later in the year when it is riskier to burn residential landscape debris piles due to drier, hotter conditions."

Safety Tips for Burning:

Shut off gas at the meter and turn off all pilot lights.
Leave your lights on in the house so firefighters can see your home through the smoke.
Shut all your windows and doors; be sure to leave the doors unlocked.
Remove flammable curtains and window shades. Close metal shutters.
Move furniture to the middle of the room, away from windows and doors.
Shut off your air conditioning.

Residential burn permits will be required beginning Tuesday May 1st. These permits are issued to the public FREE of charge, are valid for three years from the date of issuance and allows for the burning of dry vegetation (NOT household trash) that originates on the landowners property. You can pick up your FREE residential burn permit at most of the local staffed fire stations.

Don't forget that the use of burn barrels is no longer legal in Amador or El Dorado counties. For tips on residential landscape debris burning safety or other fire and life safety topics, please visit the CAL FIRE website at www.fire.ca.gov to view short videos or to download fact sheets.

For alternatives to burning your piles, please contact the Amador Fire Safe Council at www.amadorfiresafe.org or the El Dorado County Fire Safe Council at www.edcfiresafe.org for details on their available programs.

-END-