With wildfire season heating up and thousands of fires already reported across California this year, CAL FIRE’s Mendocino Unit has announced a suspension of all residential outdoor burn permits, effective Monday, June 30 at 8 a.m.
The decision, detailed in a press release issued by CAL FIRE Mendocino, halts the burning of landscape debris such as branches and leaves for residential property owners. As of June, CAL FIRE and local firefighters have responded to more than 2,678 wildfires statewide — a troubling indicator of the season ahead.
“While we understand residents often rely on burn piles to clear vegetation, the risk is simply too high,” CAL FIRE officials wrote. “Now is the time to shift from burning to preparing.”
That preparation includes creating and maintaining at least 100 feet of defensible space around homes and outbuildings — a buffer zone that can slow the spread of fire and give firefighters a chance to protect structures. The agency also emphasized the importance of being evacuation-ready in the event of a fast-moving wildfire.
CAL FIRE recommends alternative debris disposal methods such as chipping or hauling to a biomass or green waste facility. “Residents must find safer ways to manage yard waste,” the press release stated. “We all have a role in protecting our communities.”
The burn suspension does not apply to campfires on private property or in organized campgrounds, though CAL FIRE stressed that such fires must be “maintained in a way that prevents their spread into the wildland.” Campfire permits are still required and available at local fire stations or online at PreventWildfireCA.org.
Exceptions to the burn suspension may be made for agricultural, fire training, and industrial operations — but only if a CAL FIRE official inspects the site and issues a restricted-use permit based on public health or safety needs.
With conditions growing more volatile, CAL FIRE Mendocino’s press release drives home a critical message: prevention starts at home. “Use this time to get your property ready. Fires can ignite fast — and they won’t wait for you to catch up.”
For more wildfire preparation tips and up-to-date restrictions, residents are encouraged to visit CAL FIRE’s website or contact their local fire station.
I guess this should have been done a month ago. Just had a fire “ignite” within a 1/2 mile of our home Sunday. Usually, most fires are human caused. We don’t burn debris on our property anymore. We haul it to the dump. We’ve seen a property owner leave a burning pile unattended and the wife had to go find her husband to come and tend it. Relying on people to be safe when burning is risky. While most people are careful, many factors can cause a fire to escape. Be safe out there.
yesterday (June 23, 2025) was not a burn day in Mendocino County. Sunday, June 22, 2025 was the last permissive burn day, according to Mendocino County (.gov). Burning is currently suspended in all State Responsibility Areas (SRA), according to CAL FIRE Burn Permits (.gov). Can we get the name of the decision maker at the Mendocino Cal Fire Unit who holds this authority? I’d like to fact check his authority with the State of California.