Murrieta Fire Dept. Suspends Burn Permits; Warns of Early, Dangerous Fire Season

News release from the Murrieta Fire Department:

The Murrieta Fire Department along with several other fire agencies within southern California are anticipating fire conditions to be two months ahead of schedule and extremely dangerous this year.

The brush and trees in the region are exceptionally dry as a result of very low rainfall over the past few years and more specifically, this past winter. Recent measurements of fuel moisture content in the local vegetation indicate that even the live vegetation that typically holds moisture until the end of the fall season is at or near the dry levels of dead vegetation.

Many sources of ignition are of concern and they include: open flame pits, mechanical equipment, vehicle fires, dragging tow chains, spark producing tools, cigarette butts, illegal fireworks, and improperly discarded barbeque ashes. The public is urged to be aware of fire safety and to please notify the fire department as soon as possible if they see smoke or fire.

Due to this critical level of vegetation, the Murrieta Fire Department is suspending all burn permits within the city limits until further notice. In addition, the public should use screens on all commercial fire pits. It is also important to make sure a defensible space of at least 100 feet in all directions around structures is maintained.

Finally, we again ask the public to leave the fireworks to the professionals.

Information about fire prevention and brush clearance can be obtained from the Murrieta Fire Department Fire Prevention Bureau at 951-304-3473.