With fire season fast approaching in the Morongo Basin, there are many County requirements regarding burn permits and burning conditions that residents need to know. The San Bernardino County fire department has issued a list of dos and don’ts for residents to follow this fire season. Reporter Andrew Dieleman has the list…
According to San Bernardino County Fire Battalion Chief Mike McClintock, there are many fire dos and don’ts for residents to me mindful of during fire season. County residents many purchase burn permits from County Fire, call your local fire station for questions on the process. Residents can inquire about the County’s daily burn status and inform them that a burn will be completed at 909-356-3805. Burn hours are commonly from 8-12 a.m. and residents may only burn on designated burn days. The full County fire dos and don’ts list is available below.
County Dos and Don’ts for fire season:
- Can I use a purchased propane torch to burn grass or burn piles?
These are not allowed in County FD jurisdictions for any use. While still sold online (see photo), they aren’t allowed and have caused multiple vegetation fires locally in the past year.
- Do I need a burn permit for a campfire?
Recent changes to the fire code now allow a small recreational fire. Fire must be 25 feet from a structure, stay smaller than 2’x3’, not be done with more than a 10MPH wind or during “Red Flag” conditions. Fires also are not permitted in Wildfire threat areas and must use propane fires.
- I have a valid burn permit & want to burn, is it a burn day?
Please call the dispatch center at 909-356-3805 to inquire burn status and notify them that you will be completing a burn. By notifying them, this keeps a fire engine from being dispatched to your address when completing a legal/permitted burn.
- What time of day may I use my burn permit?
Burn hours are commonly 8 a.m. to midnight.
- How do I get a permit in the State Responsibility Area (SRA)?
Cal-Fire utilizes an online permit process. Please visit its Burn Permit site at https://burnpermit.fire.ca.gov/
Not sure if you are in the SRA? Use the following link: https://bof.fire.ca.gov/projects-and-programs/state-responsibility-area-viewer/
Questions on your local fire code or with the burn permit process? You can contact the Office of the Fire Marshall at 909-386-8401.
