Lakeport >> The Lake County burn ban for 2016 continues to be in effect, air pollution control officer Douglas Gearhart reminded residents. Cal Fire has lifted its own burn permit suspension, which prevents any burning during peak fire season, however, the agency has not declared an end to fire season.
The burn ban includes all open waste burning, though exemption burns are now possible with the lifting of the burn permit suspension by Cal Fire, Gearhart said in a press release. These exemptions may include burns for agricultural operations, essential control burns for fire safety projects, public safety burns and specific burns in the Valley Fire recovery areas.
To obtain an exemption, first contact the Lake County Air Quality Management District (LCAQMD) to determine need, then contact your local fire protection agency so that your burn site can be inspected and evaluated for fire safety. Only after the fire agency has reviewed the burn site and notified the LCAQMD that the proposed burn is fire safe, can you obtain a written exemption permit.
Anyone responsible for open burning during the ban without an exemption permit may be subject to a citation, fines and the cost of the fire agency response to extinguish the fire.
Burn restrictions will remain in effect until Cal Fire declares an end to fire season.
