Healdsburg Vintner Fined $50K For Illegal Burn

SONOMA COUNTY, CA -- A Healdsburg vintner agreed to pay $50,000 for violating state and local burn regulations, the Sonoma County District Attorney's Office said Thursday. Kenneth C. Wilson, owner of Wilson Vineyards, was sued for burning 31 large piles of debris, brush and vegetation on his property on Shiloh Ridge in Windsor over several days in April 2016, Sonoma County District Attorney Jill Ravitch said.

The burns violated regulations on the size and content of the piles and drew a response from several Sonoma County fire agencies. The burn piles had the potential to grow out of control because they exceeded the size allowed under Bay Area Air Quality District regulations regarding open burns, Ravitch said.

The burns also contained material that had not been dried for 30 days, Ravitch said.

"The quick response from our fire agencies prevented the spread of the fire to other properties in the area," Ravitch said.

Open burn days are limited to certain times of the year and hours of the day due to weather conditions.

Wilson agreed to pay $50,000 in penalties and $6,648 in fire response costs. He did not return a call for comment Friday morning.

By Bay City News Service

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