Remember: Permits required for fires

October is Fire Safety Month, and the Rural/Metro Fire Department is reminding area residents that burn permits are required for all open burning, except warming fires.

Fire Inspector Cori Lopez said Yuma County is the only county in the state that has an open burn program that allows residents to burn on prescribed burn days.

"Burning pretty much goes on year-round here," Lopez said. "This time of year, (September through December) we typically issue permits for small residential refuse burns."

Rural/Metro administers the control burn program locally through the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality and the Yuma County Health Department and issues between 800 and 1,000 permits each year.

In order to manage the Open Burn Program, Lopez said residents in unincorporated areas of the county need to apply for a burn permit.

Lopez said county resident who would like a burn permit can come to the main Rural/Metro Station, located at 2029 S. Arizona Avenue to fill out an application, or they can have it faxed or mailed to them.

Burn permits from Rural/Metro are issued as 30-day, six-month or one-year permits. Lopez said Rural/Metro offers residential and commercial/agricultural permits and the fees are different for each category.

"You have to wait until you actually have the burn permit in hand," Lopez said. "Then when you have the permit, you must notify us before you burn."

A residential burn permit costs $10 for one month and $35 for six months, while a commercial burn permit costs $25 for one month, $50 for six months and $95 for one year.

While there are no seasonal restrictions on controlled burns, there are specific hours when you can burn.

Lopez said for the months of April through September, fires may not be started before 9 a.m. and must be out by 4 p.m. For the months of October through March fires may not be started before 9 a.m. and must be out by 3 p.m.

"Most people don't realize you can't burn at night," Lopez said. "The only burn you can have at night is a warming or cooking fire."

Rural/Metro will also periodically do site inspections, Lopez said, to ensure that people are following the burning regulations. Inspectors will look for adequate clearance around the fire and the necessary tools for putting out the fire.

Lopez said Rural/Metro also checks with the weather bureau to see if it will be a safe day, for burning. High winds can make burning dangerous, but some wind is necessary to keep the smoke from hanging in one place.

By managing the controlled burn Lopez said Rural/Metro knows where burns are happening at that also helps cut down on firefighters responding to unnecessary calls.

"Another benefit is if someone calls to report smoke we can tell them whether it is a controlled burn," Lopez said.

She added that if you conduct a burn without a burn permit and the fire department is called, you could be subject to criminal charges, service fees from fire departments and civil suits from affected property owners.

To report a Fire Hazard in Yuma County you can contact Rural/Metro Fire Prevention at 782-4757 ext. 121 or 122 or the fire department that services your area.