Dry conditions prompt outdoor burn ban in parts of Tulare County

TULARE COUNTY, Calif. (KFSN) -- Cal Fire is suspending outdoor burning in parts of Tulare County starting Monday. The ban will restrict all outdoor open residential burning.

Raging flames lit up the sky in riverside this weekend. The more than 1,000-acre fire in Southern California forced hundreds of people out of their homes for a short time and it's still only 35 percent contained.

"That can happen throughout the state of California, and that's why we're having this burn ban into effect, and we're also staffing equipment earlier than we have in years past," said Captain John Dominguez of Cal Fire.

The SoCal fire is one reason why Cal Fire is banning outdoor burns in Tulare County state responsibility areas. Those are areas the state is financially required to protect from fires.

"This year it happens to be sooner throughout the state because of the dry conditions we're experiencing not only here in Central California but also in Southern and Northern California," said Dominguez.

He said even though people have permits that expire after Monday, those are now void because of the burn ban. In just four months, Cal Fire has responded to 18 vegetation fires in Tulare County -- significantly higher than average.

"Over the last week and over the weekend, Cal Fire responded to several fires that were result of controlled burns that had escaped the control of the property owner," said Dominguez.

People who want to get rid of vegetation from their properties will now have to chip it or haul it to a dump to avoid sparking dangerous fires. Campfires are allowed in designated campgrounds, and special permits will be issued on a case-by-case basis.