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Fire Management
Our mission is to provide safe, efficient and economical fire management while sustaining, protecting and restoring ecosystems.
Operating Principles:
- Apply the best science in efforts to restore and maintain healthy fire dependent ecosystems
- Plan and execute FAM operations in a safe, effective and cost efficient manner
- Actively participate and provide leadership supporting all elements of the Forest Service mission
- Provide leadership in developing interagency cooperation and partnerships
- Provide leadership in conservation education
- Ensure a professional, diverse and motivated workforce that is able to adapt and derive benefit during times of change
- Proudly serve the nation as Forest Service employees
Campfires & Permits
No "Fire Restriction" period
- Developed Campgrounds—Wood and charcoal fires are permitted within agency provided fire rings, no permit is needed. Petroleum or gas stoves are allowed.
- Picnic Areas—Wood and charcoal fires and stoves are permitted within agency provided fire rings.
- Dispersed Recreation Sites—Wood, charcoal fires and stoves are permitted with a valid California campfire permit.
During "Fire Restriction" period
- Developed Campgrounds—Wood and charcoal fires are permitted within agency provided fire rings, no permit is needed. However, lanterns and portable stoves using gas, jellied petroleum or pressurized liquid fuel are allowed as long as the forest visitor has a valid California Campfire Permit available from Forest Service offices during normal business hours (M-F; 8-4:30). .
- Picnic Areas—Wood and charcoal fires and stoves are not permitted.
- Dispersed Recreation Sites—Wood and charcoal fires are not permitted, stoves are permitted with a valid California campfire permit.
- Designated sites—when restrictions go in effect see list of sites in the Fire Restrictions Press Release or Forest Order.
Campfire Permits
- Required on National Forest Land in California outside of developed campgrounds, regulations governing campfires may be area specific and change with weather conditions and the seasons. Permits become invalid during local fire restriction period. Check with local unit for current fire restrictions.
- Campfire permits are available online
- Also available at offices of the US Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management or CAL FIRE.
- More on campfires
- Fire FAQs
Debris Burning
Burning of small piles of natural yard debris is allowed on private land during fall, winter and spring months in some communities. A burn ban is imposed during summer months by Cal Fire. If you are in an area that allows burning, it is imperative to know regulations, permit requirements and to burn responsibly. Follow air quality regulations by finding out if it is permissible to burn (does not always correlate to fire danger).
Escaped debris burns are the #1 cause of person-caused fires locally. Don’t burn when conditions are dry and windy. Fires burn easily during these conditions—even in Fall/Winter/Spring. You could be held civilly and criminally liable for damage caused by an escaped debris burn. Suppression costs can be very expensive.
Related Links
- Preparing homes for wildfire
- FS National Managing Fire
- FS National Interagency Hotshot Crews (IHC)
- California Fire Weather
- AirNow—California Air Quality
InciWeb - Incident Information System
Only You Can Prevent Wildfires
