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Sierra County debates future of green-waste burns after multiple escapes; staff to draft SOPs and coordinate inspections
Summary
After two recent burn escapes, the Sierra County Board of Supervisors debated whether to resume controlled burns at Sierra City and Sattley transfer sites, asked staff to finalize Standard Operating Procedures and authorized on-site inspections with the Forest Service and local fire departments. The board did not resume burning at Sierra City and directed follow-up to the solid waste committee.
Sierra County supervisors spent the longest portion of their meeting on January’s first regular session debating green-waste acceptance and burn policies after several escape incidents at county transfer sites.
Supervisor Adams opened the discussion by reminding the board that green waste was placed on hold at the Sierra City site after a pile of ash produced hot embers weeks after an otherwise controlled burn. Road department staff said those embers, combined with an unexpected high-wind event, caused escape fires and described that history as ‘‘unacceptable’’ while also accepting county responsibility for prior incidents.
Brandon (planning/building/road operations staff) told the board the road department has drafted Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and is sharing them with the U.S. Forest Service and local volunteer fire departments. He recommended supplemental water tenders at higher-risk sites and estimated the upfront cost at about $8,000 per site for a 4,000-gallon tank, pump and hoses. The road department also proposed breaking large piles into smaller burns and ensuring patrol logs and monitoring periods are strictly followed.
Gabe (Forest Service liaison) and fire officials including Eric Kubler of the Sierra City Fire Department and Rod Rummel of the Fire Safe Council supported a supervised, smaller-burn approach but emphasized rigorous oversight. "You have to make sure that you've got a patrol log and that it's followed all the way," Gabe said, arguing the SOPs and notification process can work if carried out.
Sheriff Mike Fisher urged planners to include evacuation and monitoring plans, recommending 24-hour monitoring for sites with a history of escapes, technology such as a Starlink and an IP camera feeding the sheriff’s dispatch center, and formal logs with scheduled checks.
Staff presented several operational and cost options: continue current burning with enhanced SOPs and monitoring (cheapest), add gate fees (roughly $3.49 per loose cubic yard or an estimated $18.30 per year if added to solid-waste fees), or pursue more costly mechanical alternatives. Staff also noted that closing one site would increase demand at the remaining sites and could create capacity and transport issues.
After extensive discussion, the board directed staff to arrange on-site inspections with the Forest Service, Sierra City Fire Department and the solid waste committee, to refine the SOPs, and to incorporate inspection/annual-visit language into any special-use permits. The board did not resume burning at the Sierra City site and the solid waste committee will report back to the full board with recommendations and cost estimates.
The board also asked staff to coordinate potential funding sources, including Title III Fire Safe Council support and possible county funds phased in over time, and to return options that balance safety and cost before making a final policy change.
