With the first full week of summer upon us, and vegetation now a lot drier, Cal Fire has suspended debris burning permits, starting today. The spokeswoman for the Nevada-Yuba-Placer Unit, Mary Eldridge, says the timing is close to the normal time of year, despite the record winter precipitation. She says there is more wildland fuel to burn…

click to listen to Mary Eldridge

Eldridge says, statewide, over 2,100 wildfires have been reported, compared to over 1,700 a year ago. Over 20,000 acres have been scorched, compared to over 18,000 for the same period in 2016. Much of the damage has occurred in the south part of the state, so far, which didn’t get as much rain and snow as the North State. Eldridge did not have a breakdown for our part of the state, but she says it’s already been busy for crews..

click to listen to Mary Eldridge

Cal Fire says campfires within organized campgrounds, or on private property that are otherwise permitted, will be allowed, as long as it’s maintained in such a manner as to prevent its spread to wildland. Burning permit suspensions are normally lifted by around October, or after the first major storm system hits.