As of Aug. 8, all outdoor burning is banned in the South Bay area, including all of Santa Clara County.
The burn ban was announced by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CalFire). The ban includes all burning in the State Responsibility Areas within Santa Clara, Alameda and Contra Costa counties, plus the western portions of Stanislaus and San Joaquin counties.
The restrictions also affect the use of campfires, stoves and smoking materials in these areas. The ban will remain in effect until CalFire announces otherwise.
Starting immediately, the following restrictions are in effect:
• No open fires, campfires or charcoal fires will be permitted;
• Lanterns and portable stoves using gas, jellied petroleum or pressurized liquid fuel and propane or gas fire pits will be permitted;
• Visitors to campgrounds must clear all flammable material for 10 feet in all directions from their camp stove, have a shovel available and ensure that a responsible person attends the stove at all times during use;
• Smoking is prohibited, except within an enclosed vehicle, building or designated campfire use site, or while stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter that is barren or clear of all flammable material.
The burn ban was announced as more than 13,000 firefighters are on the front lines of 12 large wildfires across the state. As of Aug. 9, these fires have burned nearly 667,000 acres and damaged or destroyed more than 2,000 structures, according to CalFire.
