Backyard burn permits suspended until end of fire season
Ban on burns starts May 1 
–May 1 marks the end of the open burn season. Burning authorized under Backyard Burn Permits issued by the Air Pollution Control District will be suspended until the end of fire season. In addition to an APCD Burn Permit, all other types of burning will now require a Cal Fire Burn Permit to be issued by the local Cal Fire stations.
Residents within state responsibility areas are required to maintain 100 feet of defensible space around all habitable structures on their property. In addition to maintaining adequate defensible space, residents are encouraged to be vigilant and avoid activities that could spark unwanted fires such as mowing dry vegetation during warm, dry, or windy weather.
Due to warm dry conditions, continuing drought, and a rapidly curing grass crop, Cal Fire and San Luis Obispo County Fire has increased staffing of fire engines and the Paso Robles Air Attack Base for this fire season. Paso Robles Air Attack Base opened Monday, April 25 and is staffed with an air tactical aircraft and two air tankers. Currently, firefighting forces include 10 fire engines and 3 bulldozers. For weather and fuels information please review the National Significant Wildland Fire Potential Outlook.
Five hand crews at Cuesta Conservation Camp, five hand crews at Ventura Conservation Camp and two hand crews at Camarillo Fire Center will remain available for emergency response. These Cal Fire hand crews are staffed in cooperation with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and the California Conservation Corps.
Cal Fire’s Cuesta Conservation Camp will be conducting its annual Fire Preparedness Exercise on Tuesday, May 3, 2016, just south of Parkhill Road approximately ½ mile west of Stagecoach Canyon Road in Santa Margarita. This hand crew training exercise consists of strenuous hiking, fire line construction and safety exercises to maintain qualified fire crews for emergency response throughout the State of California. Crews have been training several months for this exercise.
