HomeMy WebLinkAbout202.006 - Outside Fires
Fresno City Fire Department
200 Standard Operating Procedures Manual
SECTION 202.006 OUTSIDE FIRES
PURPOSE
This procedure is written to assist company officers in identifying illegal open burning
within the City of Fresno.
APPLICATION
This policy should be used to determine if an outside fire may be allowed by a
company officer.
OPERATIONAL POLICY
No open burning is permitted within the Department’s response area with the following
exceptions:
1. Open burning with an operational permit from the City of Fresno, in
accordance with Fresno Municipal Codes (FMC) and the San Joaquin
Valley Air Pollution Control District (SJVAPCD).
2. Open outdoor fires used solely for the purpose of cooking food for
human consumption, campfires, and religious ceremonial fires, where
the combustible material is clean, dry wood or charcoal, in accordance
with SJVAPCD, RULE 4103, OPEN BURNING 4.1.1.
In any case, such fires shall not be allowed if found to be offensive or objectionable
because of smoke emissions or when atmospheric conditions or local circumstances
make such fires hazardous. (FMC Section 10-50307.1.1, Prohibited Open Burning).
Company officers are authorized to order or effect the immediate extinguishment of
any open burning when in the opinion of the fire code official or designee it is
reasonably necessary for safety and protection of life and health and may issue
administrative citations and seek to recover costs in accordance with FMC Sections
10-50112.4, Violation Penalties, and 10-50112.5, Cost Recovery.
Effective Date: October 2007 Kirk Wanless, Battalion Chief Current Revision Date: 04/19/2023 Section 202.006
Next Revision (2) Date: 04/19/2026 Page 1 of 3
Fruit Stands
Fruit stands are not allowed to burn for any reason. Wood burning heating devices
such as wood stoves, portable fireplaces, chimaeras, burn barrels, or incinerators are
prohibited. Propane-fired or electric heaters are recommended by fire protection
agencies.
Retail Sales Lots
Retail sales lots are not allowed to burn forany reason. Wood burning heating devices
such as wood stoves, portable fireplaces, chimaeras, burn barrels, or incinerators are
prohibited. Propane-fired or electric heaters are recommended by fire protection
agencies.
Christmas Tree Farms/Lots
Christmas tree lots are not allowed to burn for any reason. Wood burning heating
devices such as wood stoves, portable fireplaces, chimaeras, burn barrels, or
incinerators are prohibited. Propane-fired or electric heaters are recommended by fire
protection agencies.
Penalties
California Health and Safety Code (H&S), Section 42403 gives the local air agency
the authority to recover penalties, and it provides instruction on how to assess
penalties. H&S allows maximum penalties as high as $10,000 per violation per day .
The District will determine penalties utilizing supporting documents which may include
company officers’ reports and photographs. Incident reports shall include the
following information:
1. Date, time, and location of burn
2. Size of burn
3. Type of material
4. Names of individuals involved
Effective Date: October 2007 Kirk Wanless, Battalion Chief
Current Revision Date: 04/19/2023 Section 202.006
Next Revision (1) Date: 04/19/2026 Page 2 of 3
OPERATIONAL GUIDELINE
Open outdoor fires used solely for the purpose of cooking food for human
consumption, campfires, and religious ceremonial fires, where the combustible
material is clean, dry wood or charcoal are permitted as long as they are attended and
a safe distance from buildings, combustibles and/or vegetation.
Any unattended open outdoor fires shall be extinguished.
PROCESS
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INFORMATION
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DEFINITIONS
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CROSS-REFERENCES
Fresno Municipal Code (FMC)
Section 10-50105.6.32, Open Burning
Section 10-50307.1.1, Prohibited Open Burning
Section 10-50112.4, Violation Penalties
Section 10-50112.5, Cost Recovery
San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District Policies (SJVAPCD)
Rule 4103 -Open Burning
Warming Fires
Campfires
Fruit Stands
Retail Sales Lots
Christmas Tree Farms/Lots
Penalties
California Health and Safety Code (H&S)
Section 42403
Effective Date: October 2007 Kirk Wanless, Battalion Chief
Current Revision Date: 04/19/2023 Section 202.006
Next Revision (1) Date: 04/19/2026 Page 3 of 3