Before You Burn
Please be aware of and comply with these key points as well as the detailed information that follows:
- Be sure to obtain a current Residential Burn Permit from the Cal Fire Burn Permit website. That will also serve as your District permit for Hazard Reduction Burning.
- Read and follow all instructions and conditions on your burn permit.
- Burn only vegetation removed from your property for maintaining a fire safe area.
- Pile the materials to be burned in 4ft x 4ft piles.
- Be sure that burn piles are free of all prohibited materials.
- Provide adequate clearance around burn piles to prevent the fire from escape.
- Make sure that the material has been allowed to dry prior to ignition.
- Burn only on days when the daily declaration indicates burning is permissive for your county and elevation. Ignition hours are from 9:00am - 4:00pm.
- Do not burn on windy days.
- Use an approved ignition device to ignite your piles. Do not use any flammable liquid, such as gasoline or diesel fuel, to ignite a fire.
- Attend the burn at all times until extinguished.
- Be sure the burn does not smolder and cause excessive smoke or a nuisance to neighbors.
Prohibited Materials
Hazard Reduction Burning is limited to the flammable vegetation removed in order to comply with PRC 4291. The vegetation may only be burned on the property where it was grown. Transporting materials to or from another location for burning is illegal. Furthermore, District Rule 4106 explicitly prohibits the burning of the following materials:
- Lawn clippings or other garden wastes
- Ornamental shrubbery
- Household wastes (garbage, trash, plastics, etc.)
- Petroleum wastes (waste oil, tar, gasoline, diesel, etc.)
- Demolition or construction debris
- Residential rubbish (furniture, mattresses, etc.)
- Tires & other rubber products
- Woodwaste (lumber, plywood, particleboard, manufactured wood products, etc.)
- Metal salvage (electrical wiring, motors, etc.)
- Motor vehicle bodies
- Any other combustible or flammable solid, liquid, or gaseous waste
Ignition Devices
Vegetation to be burned may only be ignited using an approved ignition device. An approved ignition device is any device capable of producing a flame that will ignite the materials without the production of black smoke. These include butane or propane torches, diesel drip torches, and flares. Matches and newspaper are also acceptable, but may be less effective. The spraying or dousing of burn piles with any accelerant such as lighter fluid, gasoline, diesel, motor oils, etc. is extremely dangerous and prohibited.
Burn Barrels
Burn barrels are prohibited. The burning of any material in a burn barrel for disposal will be subject to enforcement.
Burning Leaves and Pine Needles
Burning leaves or pine needles can create excessive smoke if not burned properly. Therefore, burning leaves or pine needles is strongly discouraged. The District encourages you to use non-burning alternatives that may be available to you in your area. If no alternatives are available, leaves and pine needles may be burned under the following conditions:
- Leaves and needles must be dry and free of excessive dirt or soil.
- Whenever possible, add leaves and needles in small amounts to an already-ignited Hazard Reduction Burn pile in such a manner to ensure that flames quickly and efficiently consume the material.
- If no other burn pile is available, start with a small, loose pile of leaves and needles, then gradually add to it as the material is consumed. Large piles of leaves and needles are more likely to smolder.
- Using a propane burner may be helpful with promoting efficient burning.
Prevent Smoldering and Causing a Nuisance
District Rule 4106 requires that vegetation be in a condition that will facilitate combustion and minimize the amount of smoke emitted when burning. This includes ensuring that:
- Materials are free of excessive dirt, soil, and moisture
- Materials are arranged or loosely stacked in such a manner as to promote drying and ensure efficient combustion
- Adding materials to an existing fire is a way to ensure that it ignites quickly and efficiently to consume the materials and minimize visible smoke
You are responsible for monitoring the smoke created by your burn. Do not allow your burn pile to smolder. A smoldering burn pile releases twice the emissions of an efficient burn and should be extinguished immediately. Allowing piles to smolder can cause a nuisance to your neighbors, nearby schools, local businesses, and public areas. Excessive smoke that creates a nuisance is a violation of District rules and will be subject to enforcement.
