Cal Fire will suspend all burn permits within its responsibility area — including Tuolumne and Calaveras counties — as of 8 a.m. Tuesday.

The ban prohibits property owners from burning debris unless they can prove it is for health or safety reasons. Burn sites must be inspected and approved before a burn permit is issued.

Previously issued dooryard-burn permits and large-scale project burn permits are rescinded, according to Cal Fire officials.

Campfires in designated campgrounds are allowable at the campground operator's discretion.

The announcement comes as Cal Fire has battled a rash of escaped-burn-sparked fires, including a fire last month in Cold Springs, in Tuolumne County, that destroyed one home and damaged two others.

"Tuolumne and Calaveras counties have had numerous burn pile escapes occurring on a daily basis," said Cal Fire Tuolumne County Unit Chief Mike Noonan.

"Experience has shown that suspending debris burns is an effective way of preventing wildfire escapes, especially as California enters a period of hotter and drier weather."