CONTROLLED-BURN
GUIDELINES
Burning
of residential or backyard waste, garden trimmings, leaves,
landscape ( tree branches, plants and grass) debris and cuttings
is strictly prohibited and subject to enforcement and a
fine.
In the interest of public safety, Gold
Ridge Fire Protection District (GRFPD) provides the following
information/guidelines:
Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) regulations
require that they be notified on a BAAQMD-approved notification form
prior to burning. Notification must be sent by FAX, mail (postmarked
at least 5 days prior to burning), or electronically. Note that verbal
notification to BAAQMD is no longer an acceptable compliance
option.
Burn only on permissive burn days, when weather conditions
make it safe to do so.
·
To determine if it’s a
burn day, call
1-800-792-0787
·
You are in the Coastal Zone of the Bay
Area Air Quality Management District – Northern Zone is East of Hwy.
101; Coastal Zone is West of Hwy.
101
·
Notify County Fire
Dispatch prior to burning at
565-1700
NOTE: The information
provided at 1-800-792-0787 is based solely on air quality and
does not take into consideration any safety factors. Therefore, it may be a
permissible burn day but not a safe burn
day.
No burning is allowed before 10:00 am,
and you may not add anything to the fire after 3:00 pm. All fires must be completely
extinguished by sunset.
Allowing materials such as stumps or tree trunks to smolder
after sunset is prohibited.
Do
not burn if the following conditions
exist:
\
·
Winds in excess of 10
mph
·
Heat above 90
degrees
Burn only
acceptable materials:
·
You may burn only
the byproducts of your agricultural business, e.g., dry prunings,
vines, etc. You may not
burn stakes, trash, etc.
·
Materials must be dry
and arranged to promote rapid
combustion.
·
The burning of
treated/painted wood, household garbage, plastic materials, shop
waste, wood waste, demolition debris, oil filters, tires, tar paper
is strictly prohibited.
General safety practices:
·
Fires must be under the
control of an adult at all times until the fire is dead
out.
·
Have shovels and other
tools nearby.
·
Have at least 5 gallons
of water at the burn site; a hose connected to a water supply is
preferable.
·
Keep fires small and
manageable—maximum allowed pile size is 4 feet in
diameter.
·
Keep fire a minimum of
50 feet from combustibles, property lines, structures, overhead
wires, vehicles, etc.
Failing to follow regulations
and guidelines and/or an escaped controlled burn may result in your
having to pay one or more of the following:
·
A
fine
·
Cost of damage to anyone
else’s property
·
Costs incurred by all
agencies responding to the fire, including but not limited
to:
ü
equipment and labor
costs
ü
damaged equipment
repair/replacement
