SEDONA AZ (March 10, 2011) – To protect your home from potential wildfires as well as make spring yard cleanup easier, the Sedona Fire District (SFD) is issuing no-cost residential burn permits for burning starting on Monday, March 14, 2011. Permits are required for any open burning in the fire district, and are currently available at no charge at the SFD’s business office at 2860 Southwest Drive in West Sedona between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. 

The final date for burning with a permit is Saturday, June 4, 2011. In spite of the recent wet weather, it is possible burn permits may be cut off before June 4, 2011. 

Open burning, under specific guidelines as described on the permit, will be allowed to start no earlier than one hour after sunrise with the fire being extinguished no later than two hours before sunset. The fire must be dead out by the end of the burning time. Burning will be allowed Monday through Saturday; no burning is allowed on Sundays. Weather conditions will dictate if open burning will be allowed on a day-by-day basis.  Any time winds exceed ten miles an hour, open burning will not be allowed.  Permit holders are required to telephone the SFD prior to starting a burn, and will be advised if the permits have been cancelled for that day due to weather. 

Construction materials, all plastic material, brush larger than four inches in diameter, paper, cardboard, rubbish and garbage may not be burned.

The burn permit is also available on the SFD website, www.sedonafire.org.  You may download the burn permit, fill it out completely, sign it and fax it to 282-6857. The permit will be processed and faxed back. A complete list of conditions for burning is spelled out on the permit. 

 Here are some steps you can take to protect your home from potential wildfires:

1. 1.      Reduce flammable vegetation, trees, and brush around your home.
2. 2.      Remove dead trees and prune low-hanging branches.
3. 3.      Cut grass and weeds regularly.
4. 4.      Relocate wood piles and leftover building materials away from structures.
5. 5.      Keep your roof and yard clean of pine needles, leaves and debris. 

For more information on what you can do to protect your home from potential wildfires or to schedule a free Firewise assessment of your property, contact the fire district at 928-282-6800.

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