The NSAQMD maintains and updates numerous burn recorders on a daily basis during those times when open burning is allowed by the California Department of Forestry. The primary responsibility for a Burn Day decision resides with 2 agencies: the California Air Resources Board and the California Department of Forestry. The local Air District has the final say on the burn day status, but considers input from all relevant sources and agencies and will almost always defer to the agency that calls for a No Burn Day. The primary factors considered in a decision are: fire danger, air quality and atmospheric dispersion characteristics.

Important Information to Know:

• Always call the appropriate Burn Day recorder before lighting that match.
• Any non-residential burning always requires an Air Pollution Permit from the Air District. If you have any doubts about your need for a permit, call the Grass Valley Office and ask for Joe or Sam.
• If the local fire department tells you that you don’t need a burn permit, always double check with Joe or Sam at the Grass Valley office.

For Current Burn Day information within the NSAQMD call:

City of Grass Valley: Open burning has been BANNED in Grass Valley!!

Western Nevada County: (530) 274-7928

Eastern Nevada County: (530) 582-1027

Western Sierra County: (530) 289-3662

Eastern Sierra County: (530) 994-3561

Portola: (530) 832-4528

Quincy: (530) 283-3602

Greenville: (530) 284-6520

Chester: (530) 258-2588

Are you curious as to how many days are No Burn Days? Do you think every Saturday is always a No Burn Day? Well, see for yourself by checking out our Annual Burn Day Statistics (.pdf) page.

Burn Day and Weather stats by month, 2005

Why Do We Have No Burn Days?