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Open Burning

 

 



Open burning, or residential burning, is the practice of burning yard and garden debris outdoors on your property in an open fire. Once a convenient way

to dispose of vegetation, open burning has become a health problem and a nuisance. To help reduce the negative impacts of open burning,

the Barstow Fire Protection District actively enforces the rules for safe and responsible burning.  


It Does Not Have to be a Burn Day to Burn...FALSE! You must always Have a Permit to Burn…

You do not need a permit for:

  • Your fireplace, wood stove, or barbecue
  • You may not burn for waste disposal in a recreational fire. If you wouldn't eat a marshmallow roasted over it - don't burn it.

How to Build a Good Fire

Good fires do not produce a lot of smoke. Smoke is simply unburned material, the less smoke produced, the more efficient and successful the burn.

Use dry, seasoned wood. Do not burn wood that has just been cut or has been soaked by moisture.

Use a mixture of material of different sizes. Start with small pieces like pine needles, add larger kindling then finally add wood.

Allow plenty of air to reach your fire. Build your fire in a teepee style with an open "door" facing into the wind.

Start your fire by lighting the smallest pieces of material first. Light your fire with matches or a lighter only. Fuel should not be necessary, and burning petroleum

products, such as gasoline, is illegal. Add material to your fire as it burns hot and clean.

Problems or Complaints

If your fire gets out of control, or you observe one that is, dial 911 immediately.

If you observe an illegal burn, please call us at (760) 256-2254.

Alternatives to Open Burning

Re-using yard and garden waste by mulching and/or composting will provide your soil with valuable nutrients. Many local businesses sell or rent equipment that

make recycling yard waste easy. Don't forget, what goes up does not go away, smoke and the pollutants it carries, stay in our air indefinitely. Putting your yard

waste into the landfill is much better for the environment than putting it into the air.

For information about waste disposal in your area, please call your local solid waste department.

Final Notes

  • On construction sites, burning of construction material is illegal.

For More Information

Please call the Barstow Fire Protection District: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Phone: (760) 256-2254 or e-mail Fire Prevention  – scorrao@barstowfire.com.

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