Cal Fire issues statewide burn ban

FRESNO COUNTY, Calif. (KFSN) -- Triple digit temperatures and low humidity coupled with the state's drought emergency means state firefighters are cracking down on outdoor burning across the Valley and throughout the state.

Cal Fire is worried about the extremely dry 31 million acres of state land that will ignite extremely quickly. Starting Wednesday night, they're enforcing a statewide burn ban- because as Captain Ryan Michaels adds, "everything around is drying out".

The state Director Ken Pimlott halted every type of burn- even on personal property. Michaels says "people just need to be very cautious fires are going to start very quickly".

Usually Cal Fire/Fresno County Fire issues hundreds of burn permits. Not this year. All of those permits have been voided. The dry conditions coupled with drought has sent crews across the state to more than two thousand fires this year. That's a 70 percent increase from last year. "People need to realize with triple digit temperatures, low humidity- we've been getting breezy conditions and the potential for those fires to escape quickly is significant and people underestimate the power of a little bit of wind".

Which means -- the most basic of activities like weed eating could spark a wildfire. "We really want people's support- really watch what they're doing- if they have questions and are still trying to gain defensible space- now is a dangerous time to be doing that".

And he says they'll be watching-- through the fourth of july weekend, even working undercover with law enforcement to make sure everyone abides by the new ban which will likely be in place throughout the summer and early fall.

Crews say the enforcement will be serious. If a fire spreads you could be responsible for the cost of someone else's property loss and for the cost of the fire fight.

For more information, visit www.ReadyForWildfire.org.