Camino — CAL FIRE’s Amador-El Dorado Unit announced Friday that it has lifted the burn-permit suspension for State Responsibility Areas (SRA) within its jurisdiction, allowing permitted residential and agricultural burns to resume on permissible burn days beginning Friday, Oct. 17, 2025, at 8:00 a.m.
INEDC: Cris Alarcon — For readers across El Dorado County
Key facts and timeline
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CAL FIRE AEU Chief Mike Blankenheim formally canceled the suspension effective Oct. 17 at 8 a.m.; the change was posted on the unit’s official social channels and reflected on the statewide burn-permit status page.
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The lift applies to the Amador-El Dorado Unit SRAs, which include portions of Alpine, Amador, El Dorado, Sacramento and San Joaquin counties. Residents inside those SRA boundaries who hold valid permits may burn on authorized burn days.
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CAL FIRE and local agencies emphasized that burn permits remain mandatory for any size of burn pile in the SRA and that permits must be obtained at the CAL FIRE burn permit website.
What residents need to know
Residents on the West Slope of El Dorado County should note the county’s burn-day calendar: the county website shows West Slope and Tahoe Basin portions moving from “suspended” to “OK to burn — starting at 8:00 a.m. Friday, Oct. 17, 2025.” Permits are required before ignition.
Agricultural burns and some larger piles may require a CAL FIRE inspection prior to ignition, and inspections may continue to be required through the remainder of peak fire season. Local fire safe councils and county fire agencies also advise exercising caution and using alternatives (chipping, green-waste collection) where available.
Official comment
“Those possessing current and valid agriculture and residential burn permits can now resume burning on permissible burn days,”
CAL FIRE said in its release announcing the change. The unit’s social posts and partner agencies echoed the same guidance: permits are free, available online, and carry safety conditions that must be followed.
How to get a permit and check your status
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Apply for or renew residential and agricultural burn permits at burnpermit.fire.ca.gov (you must view the safety video and complete the online form). Permits issued now typically remain valid through the permit season dates listed on the site. burnpermit.fire.ca.gov
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Confirm daily burn-day status for your neighborhood on the El Dorado County burn-day page and through local fire agencies; county pages are updated with West Slope/Tahoe Basin status and links to the CAL FIRE permit system. El Dorado County
Safety reminders
Local fire officials remind residents that:
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Burn piles must meet size and clearance requirements, be attended at all times by a responsible adult with tools and water available, and not be conducted under windy or high-fire-danger conditions.
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Burn barrels remain illegal in many jurisdictions; check county rules before burning.
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If weather conditions deteriorate, CAL FIRE retains the authority to reinstate suspensions without long lead time — always verify the burn-day status the morning you plan to burn.1
Why it matters to El Dorado County
For many rural and semi-rural residents, the lifting of the suspension restores a seasonal option to dispose of landscape and agricultural debris. At the same time, county and state officials warn that lower fuel moisture this fall still demands caution — improper or unattended burns remain a leading cause of wildfires. The coordinated messages from CAL FIRE, county fire agencies, and local air districts aim to balance disposal needs with public safety and air quality protections.
Sources: CAL FIRE Amador-El Dorado Unit announcement and social posts; CAL FIRE statewide burn-permit status page; El Dorado County burn-day page; local fire-safe council and county information pages.
