Burn Permits and Air Quality
Are you confused about outdoor burn permits? If so, you’re not alone!
Burn permits deal with both air quality and
wildfire danger. The 2007 edition of “Living
with Wildfire” carried a full article on the
subject from the Mendocino County Air
Quality Management District. Here are a
few basic facts.
What can you burn? Only dry vegetation
that grew on your own property! No wet
leaves, lumber, garbage, bank receipts,
neighbors’ stuff. None.
When is a burn permit required? To be
safe, assume the answer is “always.” One
small (4’x4’) pile may be exempt during the
winter. But don’t take chances -- find out
before you burn (see below)!
Where to get a permit? It depends on
where you are, what you’re burning, and
the time of year. The Air Quality District
has authority over air quality issues all
year. Regarding fire danger, some local
fire districts issue permits during winter
and spring. But starting May 1st each year,
permits must be obtained directly from
CAL FIRE. And when CAL FIRE declares that“fire season” has begun (around July 1st),
no burning is allowed.
Not sure where to go or what to do?
Call
the Air Quality professionals at 463-4354,
or CAL FIRE at 459-7414.
By the way, do you know what the term
“permissive burn day” means? It means
you are permitted to burn that day -- IF you have a burn permit! To find out if it’s a
permissive burn day or not, call 463-4391,
or 800-992-5441 x 4391.
Whether or not it’s a burn day is based on
anticipated air quality. This might have
nothing to do with whether it’s SAFE to
burn that day! Make your decision wisely:
• Don’t burn when it’s warm and windy.
•
Clear to bare soil 10 feet around the pile
before you light it.
• Have a water supply nearby.
• Stay with your fire until it’s dead out.
For more information, visit www.fire.ca.gov
or www.co.mendocino.ca.us/aqmd.
|
Fittings, access, and signs:
water for firefighting
Is your water available to fire engines?
Many folks assume theirs is, when in reality
firefighters can’t access an ounce of it!
What makes the difference? Three things:
Fittings! Fire engines can connect only to one type of fitting: a male National Hose
pipe thread fitting 1½” or 2½” in diameter.
Location. That fitting must be located where fire engines can reach it. The same
with ponds or pools. Could a fire engine
park safely right next to your pond?
Signs. If firefighters don’t know you have
water, they might pass you by. “H2O”
or “FIRE WATER” signs at your driveway
entrance and on the tank will let them
know you have that precious gift.
The Mendocino County Fire Safe Council
has created a 4-page pamphlet called“Developing Water Supplies for Fire
Protection.”
For a copy, please send a self-
addressed, business-sized envelope
to
MCFSC, PO Box 1488, Ukiah 95482.
Or click HERE to see it as a 1.2 mb pdf file
|
The homes on
Greenfield Ranch were
threatened by fire for 3
weeks! These residents
helped firefighters by
posting info about
their water supply and
access to it.
1.5” NH means they
had water and fittings
so firefighters could
access it immediately. |
Fire departments use blue reflectors
to indicate where fire hydrants are
located.
To firefighters, a blue
reflector means one thing: water is
available for them to use.
PLEASE don’t mark your driveway
with blue reflectors unless you have
water accessible for firefighting.
Have water? Post a blue reflector.
No water? NO blue reflector! Thanks.
|
|
