No residential burning permits will be issued in Los Angeles County wildland areas starting July 1 and until further notice, the Los Angeles County fire chief said today.
“We are issuing this ban to take every step possible to prevent wildfires from starting in Los Angeles County,” Fire Chief Daryl Osby said.
“Their potential to destroy life and property in our county is significant,” Osby said. “We have already had several fires this year and it is only the beginning of summer.”
Osby’s decision to declare a ban on residential burning permits in county wildland areas supports the governor’s Drought State of Emergency declaration, which directed Cal Fire to act to protect public safety during times of elevated fire risk, county fire officials said.
The ban suspends all residential burning permits within State Responsibility Areas under contract to Cal Fire in Los Angeles County and any previously issued permits will no longer be valid, officials said.
The ban will continue until formally cancelled by the county fire department, fire officials said.
Campfires on organized campgrounds or on private property otherwise permitted will still be allowed if maintained in a way that prevents the fire’s spread to wildland, officials said.
