Low-risk fire season has officially begun, according to a recent announcement from the Santa Barbara County Fire Department.
The transition to a “low fire-preparedness level” means the ban on permitted burning in designated areas within the jurisdiction of Santa Barbara County has been lifted.
As a result, fire department officials said, smoke may be visible in certain areas throughout the county. But fire officials must inspect all of these burn sites and piles to approve them.
According to county guidelines, burning with a permitted license is allowed to start at 7 a.m. However, no new material can be added to the burn after noon, and all fires must be extinguished by 4 p.m.
The fire department warned in a recent press release that “although the danger of a fire has decreased considerably, it is still possible to have wildfires during the winter months in southern California.”
County residents are encouraged to continue reducing flammable vegetation around their property and roads.
For more information about fire prevention and brush removal, visit sbcfire.com.
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This article appears in Dec 24-31, 2009.