NEVADA CITY, Calif. October 11, 2018 – Yesterday, local firefighters responded to nine “other type” fires, meaning not wildland, structure or vehicle fires. Lookout volunteers called in smoke plumes to the Grass Valley ECC and dispatchers sent engines to respond and investigate. Burn piles lit by residents in complete disregard for the existing burn prohibition not only kept firefighters busy, they can put whole neighborhoods at risk.
As a reminder, all burn permits for outdoor residential burning within the State Responsibility Area of Nevada, Yuba, Placer and Sierra Counties are suspended until CAL FIRE lifts the ban on all residential outdoor burning of landscape debris such as branches and leaves.
A little rain does not end fire season
The minimal rain last week did not end fire season and was followed immediately by north winds drying out what little moisture the precipitation left behind. Today’s weather forecast reads, in part, “Temperatures warm to several degrees above normal on Saturday as the upper ridge over the eastern Pacific starts to push inland. Meanwhile, surface high pressure pushing into the Pacific Northwest will bring an increased northerly surface gradient. Combined with upper level northerly flow, this will bring breezy north winds over the weekend. At this time, the northerly winds are not expected to be exceptionally strong but will bring lowering humidity and therefore increased fire danger.”
Fuel moisture at the White Cloud weather station on Hwy 20 at a 4,320 ft elevation is currently at 10%. As a reminder, kiln-dried lumber has a 16% moisture content.
Escaped burn pile can translate into paying for suppression cost
If your illegal burn pile escapes your control and impacts a neighbor’s property, you may be liable for suppression cost. This includes the cost of engines, water tenders, dozers and any aircraft dispatched to fight the escaped burn.