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A. 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. This prohibition shall stay in effect until November 1, 2022, unless rescinded prior to November 1, 2022, by the Board of Supervisors.

B. Exemptions. The open flame prohibition contained herein shall not extend to the following operations (exempt properties):

1. Commercial Grade Equipment.

a. 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.

b. Commercial/personally operated propane heating devices known as patio heaters, umbrella heaters and heatstrip 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.

2. Organized Campgrounds. Privately owned, organized and developed campgrounds where the following criteria have been met and are confirmed by a professional or volunteer fire organization that has jurisdiction within Sierra County:

a. Full time hosts on site during visitor use with morning and evening inspections of campfire sites and continuous monitoring of all campfires. Campfires shall be fully extinguished with water when not attended.

b. Privately owned campgrounds who are authorized and approved to allow campfires shall notify all campers of the rules outlined in this section prior to allowing campfires, failure to comply with any of the conditions outlined in this section may invalidate authorization to have campfires.

c. Water (plumbed with hoses capable of reaching a fire or a five-gallon bucket containing water) and fire tools such as shovel, hoe, or similar tools must be on site and readily available for fire suppression.

d. Minimum of three feet of mineral soil or noncombustible surface surrounding the perimeter of the any fire rings.

e. Fire rings must have not more than four-foot internal diameter.

f. Fires are limited to use for cooking or warmth and may not be used for disposal of vegetation or other debris.

3. 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.

4. Enforcement. Violation of this section or any subsection thereof shall be a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not less than $100.00, for each violation. No part of such fine shall be suspended. The court may permit the fine prescribed by this section to be paid in installments if the court determines that the defendant is unable to pay the fine in one lump sum.

In addition to the fines imposed, campgrounds or commercial/private operations in violation of the section shall not thereafter be exempt from the open flame prohibitions described in subsection (A) of this section. (Ord. 1113, eff. 8/2/22; Ord. 1105, eff. 10/5/21; Ord. 1101, eff. 9/2/21)