Reno, NV. February 8, 2021 –  The Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District is pleased to present its 2021 Community Report available online the Fire District’s website www.TMFPD.us.  

The timely publication includes information on the initiatives, programs, and projects underway in the Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District.

“Recent years have brought us challenging fire seasons with many large-scale wildfires,” said Fire Chief Charles Moore.  “This document highlights the hard work and dedication of our firefighters and paramedics as we continue to look ahead at how we can reduce the fire risk and other dangers to our citizens.”

The report highlights the Fire District’s new wildland fuels reductions division started last year with 15 wildland firefighters, heavy equipment operator, and a division chief tasked with clearing targeted areas in unincorporated Washoe County that present a significant threat to wildfire.  Many of the fuels reductions programs are funded by NV Energy as much of the work includes areas around utility infrastructure.  The crew is also utilized to fight wildland fires.

The Fire District has also improved service with the acquisition with 14 new apparatus to include a ladder truck, new fire engines, dozers, water tender, and type 5 vehicles that allow quick access to hard-to-reach and difficult terrain where wildfires and other emergencies often occur. 

The report was produced internally with no additional cost to the District’s residents.

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Reno, NV (Feb. 7, 2021). Galena residents can expect to see and smell smoke for a prescribed burn beginning Monday, February 8, weather and air quality permitting. The burning will last for a period of several day and will remain attended at all times, 24/7.

The burning of piles will take place off of Joy Lake Road. This particular terrain does not allow for mechanical access. There has been comprehensive planning and risk analysis prior to the implementation of this burn.

On-site will be 9-12 hand crew firefighters and a Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District (TMFPD) Fire Engine. It will be overseen by an experienced Nevada Division of Forestry (NDF) Burn Boss along with a TMFPD burn boss to provide additional oversight. The burn’s risk is extremely low given the winter conditions and ground snow coverage.

Why a Prescribed Burn?

• Some fuels management (this site included) can only be accomplished with the use of prescribed fire. Other vegetation processing options (chipping/mastication) aren’t reasonable due to terrain.
• Due to the dry nature of the Great Basin and Sierra Nevada, decomposition is not an effective process to eliminate fuel. The ecosystems have evolved over millions of years reliant on fire to dispose of fuels.
• Given that the area has hydrants, good roads and access, and active HOAs in hazard mitigation; fuels reduction and disposal through piles is most effective to make the community more defensible for wildfire. Ultimately, these fuels will burn. The choice is whether it is on nature’s terms or ours.

Further questions can be directed to 775.326.6071.

Thank you for your cooperation and support and we work to reduce the fire threat in our communities.

Reno, Nev. November 25, 2020.  Open/pile burning of green waste for residents who reside in the Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District (TMFPD) will be allowed beginning December 1 until further notice.  In order to reduce smoke sightings by residents which trigger fire response by Truckee Meadows Fire & Rescue crews, open burning will be allowed only for the first seven days of the month under three conditions:

1. With an approved burn permit, when conditions allow.  Previous or past burning permits are no longer valid.
2. Only if Washoe County Air Quality Division has designated a Green Day as noted here.  
3. Only if it is a designated permissible burn day by Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District as noted here.

Open burning on properties outside of the Truckee Meadows Hydrographic Basin 87 is limited to parcels 1 acre in size or larger. Parcels inside the Truckee Meadows Hydrographic Basin 87 must be 2 acres in size or larger.  After submitting the application online, users will be immediately approved or denied a burn permit based on their property location and parcel size.

Open burning or pile burns refers to the burning of cut and stacked vegetation, which is a useful method to reduce combustible vegetation, as well as to allow for property maintenance and agricultural activities.  This year, open burning comes on the heels of the Fire District’s 20 days of green waste collection.  Additionally, Waste Management allows extra bags for curbside pickup during November.

Open burning does not include recreational fires. A permit is NOT required from TMFPD for residential recreational or cooking fires. A recreational fire is an outdoor fire where using a fire pit, chimenea, outdoor fireplace, or similar equipment or devices as being intended for cooking, warmth, or other special purposes, and rubbish is not being burned. According to the fire code, recreational fire shall not have a total fuel area greater than 3 feet in diameter and must be 2 feet or less in height. Residents should check their respective homeowner’s association (HOA) requirements on regulations governing recreational fires.

Open burning will be allowed on the first seven days of each month as long as conditions permit and can change at any time.  Residents are responsible for their burn and will held liable if they fail to abide by proper burning procedures and cause a wildfire.  Nevada Revised Statue 474.550 provides that: “Any person, firm, association, or agency which willfully or negligently causes a fire may be charged with the expense incurred in the extinguishing the fire.

In order to burn, ALL residents must file a 2020/2021 Burn Permit with TMFPD.  The automated permit application can be accessed online 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 

Before initiating any open burning, visit the home page of the Fire District’s website at www.tmfpd.us to determine whether or not it is a permissible burn day.  If a red flag appears on the District’s homepage, burning will not be allowed under any circumstances.  It is also important to know the burn code administered by Washoe County Air Quality Management Division.

Residents must be aware of rules and regulations to burn (helpful video here) in the Truckee Meadows to include:

• Burn hours are sunrise to 2:00 p.m. However, this could alter due to an unexpected change of wind and weather.
• Never burn when winds exceed 10 miles per hour.
• The edge of the fire must be a minimum of 50 ft. from any structure and the pile must be limited in size to 4 ft. wide, 6 ft. high.    
  • Burning can occur with a minimum of 25 ft. from any structure; however, the pile must be limited in size to 3 ft. wide, 2 ft. high.
• Keep water or a fire extinguisher close by, along with hand tools to bury the fire when complete.

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Reno, NV. November 9, 2020 – Effective Immediately, the Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District has lifted the prohibition on all outdoor recreational and cooking fires.  The recent snowfall and cooler temperatures have brought favorable conditions to the Truckee Meadows. Please review the criteria for recreational fires and outdoor fireplaces/fire pits. 

Always have a fire extinguisher or access to water nearby any open flame. 

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**UPDATED on October 20, 2020** Locations for FREE Truckee Meadows Fire & Rescue Green Waste Collection

Reno, Nev. – TMFR’s Green Waste Collection Days offer the best alternative to create defensible space.  Green waste collection allows residents to dispose of their dry and dead vegetation, shrubs, tree branches, and other wildland fuels to encourage the creation of defensible space to protect homes and property from wildfires.  This is a free event sponsored by the Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District as a community service for all Washoe County residents, with support from NV Energy, Nevada Division of Forestry, Living with Fire (UNR Cooperative Extension), and Nevada Network of Fire Adapted Communities.

Green Waste Collection will take place from 9am until 4pm.  Some dates have two separate locations for small and large loads.

*Large loads equal loads larger than a pickup bed.

November 6 (Fri) & 7 (Sat):             TWO LOCATIONS

Small Loads: Crystal Peak Park, 561 Crystal Park Rd, Verdi

*Large Loads: NDF Fire Station, 885 Eastlake Blvd, Washoe Valley

November 8 (Sun) & 9 (Mon):             TWO LOCATIONS

Small Loads: Scolari’s, 5430 Sun Valley Blvd, Sun Valley

*Large Loads: NDF Fire Station, 885 Eastlake Blvd, Washoe Valley

November 13 (Fri) & 14 (Sat):        Lemmon Valley Station, 130 Nectar Street, Reno (One Location Only: Large and Small Loads accepted)

November 15 (Sun) & 16 (Mon):        Silver Lake Station, 11525 Red Rock Road, Reno (One Location Only: Large and Small Loads accepted)

November 20 (Fri) & 21 (Sat):        Ironwood Equestrian Center, 5600 Whiskey Springs Road, Palomino Valley (One Location Only: Large and Small Loads accepted)

November 22 (Sun) & 23 (Mon):        TWO LOCATIONS

Small Loads: Lazy 5 Regional Park, 7100 Pyramid Way, Sparks

*Large Loads: NDF Fire Station, 885 Eastlake Blvd, Washoe Valley

Examples of accepted items include junipers, pines, rabbitbrush, sagebrush, and other woody vegetation.

ONLY natural vegetation, please.  Items we will NOT accept include household garbage and trash, lumber, hazardous materials, grass clippings, dirt and gravel, and stumps with root balls.  Tree stumps in excess of 8 inches in diameter will not be accepted.  Additionally, we cannot accept items in bags.  Bags must be emptied on site and removed. 

While we appreciate residents taking part in this free green waste collection to create defensible space, please do not use designated locations to dispose of green waste after events. Dumping is illegal in Washoe County, Nevada and punishable by fines and jail time.

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Reno, Nev. Sept 11, 2020 – Effective immediately, in accordance with Section 307.1.1 of the adopted fire code, and until further notice, all outdoor recreational and cooking fires are prohibited in the Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District, except for the residential use of propane barbeques.  All other recreational appliances including charcoal briquettes and propane fire pits and any outdoor wood fires are prohibited to include wood pellet smokers.

This is a necessary step due to the unseasonable heat and dryness of the wildland fuels in our region.

“We’ve seen the devastation of wildfires locally and in neighboring states like California, Oregon, and Washington and we must take immediate action to decrease the potential of wildfires in unincorporated Washoe County,” said Fire Chief Charles Moore.

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