Residential open burning ends Nov. 15 for American and Thompson valleys
Residential open burning in the American and Thompson valleys (within the Quincy Fire Protection District) concludes Nov. 15 and won’t resume again until March 16, 2022.
The purpose of this wintertime burn ban is to keep air pollution levels within state and federal standards for particulate matter (PM2.5). During the winter, much of the community heats with wood and smoke from stoves elevates the levels of particulate matter (especially during inversions when warmer air aloft traps smoke close to the ground, in the breathing zone). Banning open burning during the winter allows the community to continue to heat with wood without exceeding air quality standards. The Northern Sierra Air Quality Management District Board of Directors adopted this Rule 318 in 1991. For more information, please visit the Air District’s website at: www.myairdistrict.com(http://myairdistrict.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Reg_III_-_318.pdf)
- Open burning is never allowed in downtown Quincy and East Quincy or within the City limits of the City of Portola.
- Plumas County, outside the Quincy area, may participate in residential open burning when these rules are followed:
- Burn only on permissive burn days (Rule 313)
- Obtain a burn permit from a fire agency when required (Rule 312)
- Burn only on the premises where material originated (Rule 311)
- Never burn garbage or construction debris. Burn only natural vegetation. (Rule 302)
- Construct burn piles loosely, arranged to facilitate rapid combustion. Never allow smoke to enter a populated area or create a nuisance (Rule 315)
To find out if it is a permissive burn day:
530-283-3602
(choose either option #4 or #5, depending on if you are within the Quincy area or not)
To contact the Air District, please call the Portola office at 530-832-0102 or District headquarters at 530-274-9360.
