Cal Fire winding down; season ends

Fire season has ended for Cal Fire’s Tuolumne-Calaveras Unit, which includes Tuolumne and Calaveras counties in addition to eastern portions of Stanislaus and San Joaquin counties.

Cal Fire is transitioning into what it calls “winter preparedness,” meaning it is releasing seasonal firefighters and closing fire stations.
  

 “We’re calling it winter preparedness mode,” said Steven Hollett, the unit’s pre-fire division chief. “We just want to make sure folks don’t think the fire threat is gone.”

Of the unit’s 15 fire stations, four —Columbia, Twain Harte, Green Springs and Blanchard —will stay open under a contract with Tuolumne County, while two engines should be available in varying Calaveras County locations, Hollett said.

Cal Fire is prepared to call back additional resources if needed, he said.

Open burning by the public is now allowed 24 hours a day, but only on burn days. Those days are established by county air pollution control districts.

Burn permits will not be required until spring, typically around May 1. However, burning on property five acres or larger does requires a permit from the local air pollution control district.

Fire officials say winter is an ideal time to make sure there is fire clearance around homes.

“Now is the time to work on 100-foot defensible space around your home,” said Mike Noonan, fire chief of the Tuolumne-Calaveras Unit. “Defensible space helps protect your property, your neighbor’s property and your community.”

Noonan said those who burn should do so carefully by remaining nearby, having access to water and not burning on days with high winds.

To find out if it’s a burn day, call 533-5598 in Tuolumne County or 754-6600 in Calaveras County.