Oroville, Calif. October 20, 2016 – Effective Friday, October 21, 2016 at 8:00 am the burn suspension in Butte County will be lifted. CAL FIRE/Butte County Fire Chief Darren Read is formally cancelling the burn suspension.

While cooler temperatures have helped to diminish the threat of wildfire, we are still in our fifth year of drought. Property owners and residents are asked to use caution while conducting debris or agriculture burns. Always use caution when burning, follow all guidelines provided, and maintain control of the fire at all times. Individuals can be held civilly and/or criminally liable for allowing a fire to escape their control and/or burn onto neighboring property.

Residents wishing to burn MUST verify it is a permissive burn day prior to burning.

  • Before burning in Butte County, you MUST call the Butte County Air Quality Management District (BCAQMD) at 332-9407 or toll free at 1-855-332-9407 or at www.bcaqmd.org to determine burn day status and to familiarize yourself with BCAQMD regulations for your area.
  • Burn Hours in Biggs and Gridley are 6:00 am until 2:00 pm.  Burning in the city limits of Oroville is allowed from 6:00 am until one hour before sunset with valid permit.  Burning in the town limits of Paradise, both east and west zones, is permitted from 9:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. October 21st through November 17th with a valid permit. Burn hours in the remaining Butte County areas are 8:45 am until one hour before sunset.

Pile Burning Requirements

  • Only dry, natural vegetative material such as leaves, pine needles and tree trimmings may be burned.
  • Drying times apply for the burning of vegetative waste. Contact the BCAQMD for more information.
  • The burning of trash, painted wood or other debris is not allowed.
  • Do NOT burn on windy days.
  • Piles should be no larger than four feet in diameter and in height. You can add to pile as it burns down.
  • Clear a 10 foot diameter down to bare soil around your piles.
  • If burning on a lot less than one acre in size, all open fires should be located more than 25 feet from the nearest occupied dwelling on any adjacent parcel.
  • Have a shovel and a water source nearby.
  • An adult is required to be in attendance of the fire at all times.

Safe residential pile burning of forest residue by landowners is a crucial tool in reducing fire hazards. State, Federal and Local land management and fire agencies will also be utilizing this same window of opportunity to conduct prescribed burns aimed at improving forest health on private and public lands.

For more information on burning, call the Fire Prevention Bureau at (530) 538-7888 or visit us on the web at www.buttecounty.net/fire or www.fire.ca.gov.