Debris Burning Safety

• Tools: Water, bucket or large container, shovel, burn barrel (if available)
• Cellphone: Call 911 immediately in case of emergency — if your fire jumps from the pit to surrounding vegetation or if embers fly outside of the fire.

Search for ‘fire restrictions’ followed by your location or local public lands agency. Always check to see if a permit is required and if burning is safe in your area.

Don’t burn in windy conditions or when vegetation is very dry.

Burn dry, natural vegetation grown on the property but never trash, plastic, or tires.

You need an overhead clearance of at least 3x the height of the pile, so stay away from power lines, overhanging limbs, buildings, vehicles, and equipment.

You need a clearance of at least 10 feet of gravel or dirt around the area. You will water this and the surrounding area when extinguishing the fire.

Make sure it’s in good condition and has at least three evenly-spaced, 3-inch, screened vents and metal top screen.

Keep your burn pile to a maximum of 4 feet by 4 feet, and add additional debris only after the fire has died down.

Always be vigilant around your fire — don’t play around and keep an eye on children and pets.

Pour lots of water on the fire until the hissing sound stops, drowning all the embers — don’t extinguish a fire with just dirt or sand.

Use your shovel to stir the water into the embers, dirt, and sand, and mix well. Scrape any sticks and logs until no embers are exposed or smoldering, not just the red ones.

Continue adding water, dirt, and sand until all material is cool.

Hover the back of your hand over the ashes to feel that the embers are cool — don’t leave without making sure your fire is entirely out.

Check the area up to several weeks after the burn for any signs of smoldering or burning, especially if the weather is warm, dry, and windy.