With the wildfire danger once again very high this summer, the chief of CAL FIRE’s Nevada-Yuba-Placer unit has sent letters to private property owners near Purdon and Edwards Crossings in the South Yuba Canyon. The letter cites provisions in the state code about legal responsibilities. Captain John Hotchkiss says that includes prohibitions on lighting, maintaining, or using a campfire upon any brush-covered land, grass-covered land, or forest-covered land without getting written permission from the property owner…

click to listen to John Hotchkiss

Hotchkiss says canyon fires are particularly dangerous, due to access challenges…

click to listen to John Hotchkiss

A permit is not necessary where property owners have signage saying camping is allowed. A more aggressive enforcement of overnight camping has also been imposed on government properties in the area this summer.