The residential/dooryard burn ban will be lifted at the end of fire season as determined by CAL FIRE. Residential/dooryard burning refers to the burning of waste as a residence in the open air and does not include burning in fireplaces and wood stoves within the residence. The Butte County Air Quality Management District, in cooperation with local fire protection agencies, provides the following information on residential/dooryard burning requirements as a public service. Requirements are included for all areas of Butte County including the Cities of Biggs, Chico, Gridley, Oroville, Paradise and areas of Butte County that are within the Lassen and Plumas National Forest. Persons burning residential wastes should read this summary for future reference. For more information please contact your local Fire Department or Butte County Air Quality Management District.

AIR QUALITY (Butte County Air Quality Management District)
RESIDENTIAL BURN LINE - (530) 896-2537

EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2004 - State Residential Burning Air borne Toxic Control Measure (ATCM). The ATCM limits residential burning to vegetative waste and prohibits the use of burn barrels in most of Butte County. Residential burning may only be conducted on permissive residential burn days.

Two small exemption areas exist in Butte County, and are located primarily in the Lassen National Forest and Plumas National Forest. Clean, dry non-glossy paper may be burned and burn barrels may be used in the exemption areas.

Burning is allowed only on Permissible Burn Days. Burn day information is available by calling 896-2537. Burn day information is also provided to local radio stations with a forecast available for the following day. Do not call your local Fire Department for burn day information. Burn day determinations for Butte County are divided into two zones, the upper elevation zone and the lower elevation zone. The upper zone, primarily the areas above 3,000 feet, includes the communities of: Berry Creek, Yankee Hill, Jarbo Gap, Concow, Clipper Mills, Forbestown, Cohasset, Forest Ranch, Stirling City, Butte Meadows, and Jonesville. The lower zone includes the communities of: Chico, Dayton, Durham, Oroville, Kelly Ridge, Gridley, Biggs, Palermo, Paradise and the Upper Ridge (95954 zip code).

Vegetation can only be burned on the property on which it is grown. Transporting vegetation to another location to be burned is prohibited.

The following cannot be burned: painted/treated lumber, garbage, tires, trash, plastic, metal, rubber, cotton, wool, petroleum products, pain, other similar smoke or toxic-fume producing items, and fire works.

Burnable materials must be dry, not covered with dirt, and loosely stacked to allow air to circulate freely so that smoke will be minimized.

No burning shall occur when weather conditions cause smoke from the burn to enter onto ANY adjacent residence where there are persons residing such as to create a smoke nuisance. A smoke nuisance is smoke from a fire impacting a considerable number of persons. Questions on air quality requirements should be directed to the Butte County Air Quality Management District at 891-2882.

FIRE SAFETY
Residential/dooryard burning requirements apply when burn permits are required. A responsible person must be in attendance all times. Adequate water supply must be available on site to control the burn pile or potential escapes. wind speeds must provide for a safe burn. The property owner and anyone burning are individually and collectively responsible for all burn regulations. Persons doing the burning will be held liable if the burn escapes their control.

BUTTE COUNTY RESIDENTS IN UNINCORPORATED AREAS
Responsible fire agencies are Butte County Fire/California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection and the U.S. Forest Service. Butte County Fire/CAL FIRE phone number 538-7111. U.S. Forest Service District Office at Oroville phone number 534-6500. U.S. Forest Service District Office at Butte Meadows phone number 873-3459. Permits are required May 1st to the end of fire season annually (not valid during burn ban July 1st to end of fire season). No permit required from end of fire season to April 30. No fee required. Available at Butte County Fire Stations/CAL FIRE, U.S. Forest Service District Office at Oroville, and U.S. Forest Service District Office at Butte Meadows. Burn Hours 6:00 am - 11:00 an from May 1 to June 30. Pile Size 4-foot diameter maximum and 10-foot clearance when burn permits are required. No burn hour restrictions from November 1st to April 10th on permissible burn days.

CITY OF BIGGS
Responsible fire agency is City of Biggs Fire Department/California Department of Forestry. Phone number 868-5834. Permits required year round. No fee required. Available at Biggs Fire Station, 434 "B" Street. Burn hours are 6:00 am to 11:00 am May 1 through October 31 and 6:00 am to 2:00 pm November 1 through April 30 on permissible burn days. Pile size 4-foot diameter maximum and 10 foot clearance is required.

CITY OF CHICO
Responsible fire agency is City of Chico Fire Department. Phone number 897-3400. No residential/dooryard burning allowed.

CITY OF GRIDLEY
Responsible fire agency is City of Gridley Fire Department/California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Phone number 846-5711 Permits.