Current Prescribed Burn  Projects: 

Today, Friday, October 30th, CAL FIRE will be completing the prescribed burn project on Rambling Way, which was initiated a month ago.   Approximately 13 acres of the project were put on hold (not burned) due to concerns about smoke impacts at the time.  CAL FIRE crews conducted a 37-acre prescribed burn off of Nimshew Road/Tika Lane yesterday.  A press release with more information on both of CAL FIRE's projects is located here.   

Also yesterday in Magalia, a 22-acre burn was conducted n the Coutelenc Park area.  A press release with more information about this burn, overseen by the Butte County Fire Safe Council and conducted by a private contractor, is located here.

The District has installed a temporary air monitor (called an E-BAM) to collect real-time data on emissions from the prescribed burns in Magalia.  Click here to access the data from the monitor, which is listed with a capital T (for temporary) on the AirNow page.  Please contact our office with any questions or concerns regarding smoke.

The prescribed burn project that CAL FIRE hoped to burn in lower Cohasset during the week of October 5-9 has been on hold and may be conducted in early November.  Details regarding the "Iron Canyon RX" are located here.  When more information is available, we will post it here.

Approvals for prescribed burns are  evaluated as requests are received and when approved, will be shown on the state-wide map of authorized agency-administered prescribed burns, which is located here.  Smaller prescribed burn projects and pile burn projects conducted by contractors and landowners are not shown on this map, but authorization must be provided by the District.  Landowners interested in getting assistance to conduct prescribed burns on their property are encouraged to contact the RCD - here is a link to their webpage.

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District Rules require a prescribed burn permit with a map of all proposed burn locations for all types of prescribed burning, which includes broadcast and/or underburning.  CAL FIRE or local Fire protection agencies also require a burn permit for this type of burning; please contact your local fire station or Butte County CAL FIRE’s main office at (530) 538-7111 with any questions about their requirements.

The following prescribed burning activities require a Smoke Management Plan (SMP) in addition to a District prescribed burning permit:

• Open burning associated with range improvement, wildland vegetation management, and forestry and timber operations located below the elevation of 1000 feet above sea level, regardless of size.
• Open burning associated with range improvement, wildland vegetation management, and forestry and timber operations encompassing a land area greater than 10 acres in size at any elevation.

A Smoke Management Plan shall be submitted to the District through PFIRS at least 14 days prior to ignition. For more information and assistance, please contact Ursula Parker at 530-332-9400 x104.

For more information, please see the Prescribed Burning Fact Sheet

The California Air Resources Board has come out with an app to track smoke from Prescribed Fires. More information about the California Smoke Spotter App here.

To learn more about Prescribed Burn Associations, visit the California Prescribed Burn Association Page.

For more information about Prescribed Fires, see the booklet by the Forest Management Task Force below.