Winter Without Snow
This winter all of California is taking a hit this winter. Bevin Edwards, right, and his son, Phoenix Edwards, center, stand at the bottom of a run at Big Bear Mountain Resort.
A Good Time for Wildfire Prep
It’s February in the Sierra, and things are feeling… warm.
The daffodils are in bloom, the plows are parked, and business is down. For many families and small business owners, this is not the February we were hoping for. SO many skiers are staying home. Cabin rentals are being posponed. Local restaurants, shops, and tourism based services are taking a hit.
And while I believe this is this is the time we call on the gods to ask old man winter to wake up, I’d never think any of this is good news. I will say this, if there’s a silver lining to this dry stretch, it’s burn season.
What Does That Mean?
Right now, we are in a rare moment where weather conditions are stable enough for CAL FIRE to allow open burning… pretty much all the time. That gives us something we often don’t get in February: time and access to do the work that protects us in the summer without sweating our butts off.
Creating defensible space. Clearing brush. Removing low limbs and dry fuels around your home. Cleaning gutters. Organizing neighborhood clean-up crews. Making a plan.
If we wait until May or June to start doing something about fire, we are already behind. But right now, right now, the ground is cool and the temperatures are safe. That makes this a perfect window to act.
What You Can Do This Week
Whether you are in Tuolumne or Strawberry, or any of the communities up 108, there are real steps you can take this week to improve fire readiness, and help your neighbors do the same.
1. Get a Burn Permit
Every burn, even in winter, requires a valid permit. Luckily, it’s free and easy.
→ Get Your CAL FIRE Burn Permit
2. Check the Burn Day Status
Tuolumne County updates daily burn permissions based on air quality. Always call or check online before lighting a pile.
→ Tuolumne County Burn Day Status
3. Check Out Tuolumne PBA
The Tuolumne Prescribed Burn Association is here to help folks bring good fire back to the land (the safe, healthy kind). They’ll walk you through how to do controlled burns on your property, give you the tools and training, and even lend a hand when you need it.
4. Clear Out Green Waste
Use this time to trim back vegetation, clear needles, and haul away branches. Local drop-off sites include Cal Sierra and other county-approved locations.
→ Cal Sierra Earth Resource Facility
5. Talk to Your Neighbors
Wildfire risk is not a solo problem. If you can, organize a cleanup weekend, or help an elderly neighbor clear their yard. Ask around. Offer tools or trailer space. You may be surprised how many people want to do something, but do not know where to start.
Why This Matters More Than Ever
After the devastating 3–2 vote to defund Station 56, CAL FIRE in Tuolumne County is being asked to do more with less. And while they continue to serve with dedication and professionalism, this is not the best position we could be in. We are undercutting our own ability to respond to fire season, and we are telling the insurance companies and the state agencies that fire readiness is not a priority here.
That is the wrong message.
The right message is that we are stepping up as a community.
We are taking care of each other. We are doing the work now, not later. We are not waiting for another windstorm or red flag warning to remember how real the threat is.
A Few Extra Resources
If you want to go deeper or find ways to help others in your area:
Firewise USA: Tips and guides for home hardening and community planning
Tuolumne County Fire Safe Council: Local programs, grants, and educational tools
A Note About Station 56 and Winter Clean up
Winter is when we should be planning ahead. With fewer emergencies and mild weather, it is the time to build trust, invest in readiness, and focus on the future.
Instead, the Board of Supervisors made the choice to cut funding to Station 56, our busiest, most centrally located fire station. That decision may already be affecting insurance rates and response capabilities. But that does not mean we are powerless.
If anything, it means we have to get even more serious about what we can do, right now, in our own communities.
Permits are available. Almost every day is a burn day. And if you need help figuring out what to do or how to get started, reach out. I am here for that.
I suggest we all go outside and do a serious snow dance! But in the meantime, let’s use this mild winter to get ahead of fire season… while we can.
