Cal Fire officials offer safety tips to prevent escaped debris burns

There have been numerous escaped debris burns in the past several days in the rural areas and Sierra Nevada foothills east of Modesto, so fire officials this week offered some safety tips on disposing of vegetation properly.

Fire season hasn’t officially begun for the Tuolumne-Calaveras Unit of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. But Cal Fire officials say there still are risks involved when residents burn debris after creating and maintaining a defensible space around their homes.

To minimize the risks:

▪ Keep burn piles to a manageable size and number.

▪ Never leave the fire unattended.

▪ Make sure you have proper clearance cut to mineral soil around the pile.

▪ Have a shovel and water hose nearby, so you can quickly put out an escaped fire.

▪ Be aware of burning on sloped ground. Burning material may roll downhill and escape control.

▪ Do not burn on days expected to have gusty winds, even if it is a permissible burn day. The wind can carry fire embers and spark fires far away from your burn pile.

▪ Be considerate of your neighbors and be aware of where the smoke from your burning pile is drifting.

Cal Fire officials said property owners who lose control of burn piles could face criminal action and civil liability for fire suppression costs as well as damages to other property. Residents will be required to obtain burn permits starting May 1 or earlier if dry conditions persist.

Residents must call the Air Pollution Control District in their area to determine whether it is a burn day before burning debris. Call (209) 754-6600 in Calaveras County; (209) 533-5598 in Tuolumne County; and (877) 429-2876 in Stanislaus and San Joaquin counties.

This story was originally published April 3, 2015 at 1:03 PM with the headline "Cal Fire officials offer safety tips to prevent escaped debris burns."