Sierra County Municipal Code Ch. 31.06 Seasonal Fire Restrictions

The purpose and intent of this chapter is to create greater consistency between federal and local policies and timing of seasonal fire restrictions by relying on the scientific and technical expertise and greater forecasting resources of the U.S. Forest Service, while reserving powers to the local Board of Supervisors to determine when such restrictions should be lifted for its private citizens and further clarifying which specific uses and activities should be exempt on private land and those public lands not owned and/or controlled by state or federal government agencies. (Ord. 1140 §§ 2, 3, eff. 9/4/25)

Building, maintaining, attending, or using outdoor fires, including campfires, bonfires, pit fires, tiki torches, portable stoves, charcoal/wood-fueled barbeques or any other open flame fire, is hereby prohibited on all private lands within the unincorporated area of Sierra County and public lands within the unincorporated area of Sierra County which are not owned and/or controlled by state or federal governmental agencies whenever the U.S. Forest Service agency with the greatest presence in Sierra County enacts a “Stage II” fire restriction order or when open flames are restricted in hosted campgrounds on Forest Service land during conditions of extreme fire hazard. This prohibition shall stay in effect until lifted by the U.S. Forest Service, or unless rescinded by the Board of Supervisors. (Ord. 1140 §§ 2, 3, eff. 9/4/25)

The open flame prohibition contained herein shall not extend to the following operations (exempt properties and uses):

A. Commercial Grade Equipment.

1. Commercial/professional barbeque or smoker equipment set up and maintained within an area cleared of vegetation or other ignition sources for a minimum of 30 feet surrounding the equipment and continually monitored during operation. A fire extinguisher shall be readily accessible at all times during operation of such commercial/professional equipment. All barbeque or smoker equipment shall be fully extinguished at the conclusion of the event and prior to transporting the equipment.

2. Commercial/personally operated propane heating devices known as patio heaters, umbrella heaters, and heat strip outdoor heating systems and fire rings, excluding torpedo heaters, if properly maintained and placed on a hard noncombustible surface and in an area free of combustible materials surrounding the perimeter of the heating device and clear of overhead combustible materials. All such devices shall be continually monitored during operation.

B. Personal Devices. Personal propane barbeques or smokers that are placed on a hard noncombustible surface and in an area free of combustible materials surrounding the perimeter of the cooking device and clear of overhead combustible materials are allowed. Personal barbeques or smokers that are fueled by compressed wood chips and have no open flame and are placed on a hard noncombustible surface and in an area free of combustible materials surrounding the perimeter of the cooking device and clear of overhead combustible materials are allowed. (Ord. 1140 §§ 2, 3, eff. 9/4/25)

Violation of this section or any subsection thereof may be prosecuted as a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of $1,000 and/or imprisonment up to six months in county jail, or both, or an infraction punishable by a fine of $500.00. (Ord. 1140 §§ 2, 3, eff. 9/4/25)