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fire prevention

Outdoor Burning

BURN CODE / Burning is PROHIBITED

Effective Date: November 19, 2024

Burning is closed and may resume in the Spring, conditions permitting.
Burning is allowed with an approved permit and weather permitting from
12/1/24 – 12/31/24.

Outdoor Burning

Open Burning

All open burning requires a permit from the Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District.

Open burning is the burning of materials where smoke is emitted directly into the atmosphere without passing through a stack or chimney from an enclosed chamber with an aperture, duct, or flue necessary to provide combustion air and control the emitting gases into the air. This does not include road flares, smudge-pots, and similar devices or recreational fires or the use of portable outdoor fireplaces.

Fire for the purposes of cooking, warmth, religious, pleasure, ceremonial or other special purposes shall be defined as a Recreational Fire. 

IFC 307.1.1 Open burning shall be prohibited when atmospheric conditions or local circumstances make such fires hazardous.

FC 307.3 Extinguishment. Where open burning creates or adds to a hazardous situation or a required permit for open burning has not been obtained, the fire code official is authorized to order the extinguishment of the open burning operation.

IFC 307.4 Location. Minimum of 50 feet from any structure, and provisions shall be made to prevent the fire from
spreading to within 50 feet of any structure. Piles shall be no more than 4 feet in diameter, 6 feet high.
Exceptions:
1. Fires in approved containers (burn barrels) that are at least 15 feet away from a structure.
2. Minimum required distance from a structure shall be 25 feet where the pile size is 3 feet or less in diameter and 2 feet in height.
IFC 307.5 Attendance. Open burning, recreational fires and use of portable outdoor fireplaces shall be constantly attended until the fire is extinguished. A minimum of one portable fire extinguisher with a minimum 4-A rating or other approved on-site fire extinguishing equipment such as dirt, sand water barrel, garden hose or water truck, shall be available for immediate utilization.
Enacting Burn Restrictions and Burn Bans
The Fire Chief, Fire Code Official, and/or Washoe County Air Quality have the authority to enact a burn restriction or burn ban for incorporated Washoe County. Criteria used to determine when these conditions are initiated include all the following: weather (current and forecasted), fuel moistures, cooperator status, local and regional fire activity, and national preparedness levels (which influences suppression aircraft availability). All these elements are closely monitored by the District. When predetermined criteria are met, burning shall be opened or closed as deemed appropriate for conditions. Immediate notifications are made to the media through press releases and the Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District through our website and social media platforms.
Frequently Asked Questions

Q: 

When is open burning by permit allowed?

A: 

• Open burning season is dictated by air quality regulations, weather, and fuel moisture content.
• Burn season will open as determined by the TMFR Fire Chief.
• Citizens that obtain burn permits are responsible for verifying if burning is opened or closed prior to starting any open burning. 
• The Permittee is responsible for knowing and complying with all burn regulations.

Q: 

What hours can I burn?

A: 

• Burn hours are sunrise to Noon, with no visible smoke after 1 p.m.
• Should conditions change during your burn, extinguish the fire immediately.
• Open burning is always dependent upon current and forecasted weather and wildland fuel conditions.

Q: 

What other methods are available for me to dispose of green waste?

A: 

Learn More

Q: 

What day can I burn?

A: 

Open burning can only be conducted the first 7 days of the month, when conditions allow. Before burning, verify on the Truckee Meadows Fire website and the Washoe County Air Quality website to determine whether it is a permissible burn day. If it is not a permissible burn day, burning is not allowed on that day, under any circumstances.

DO NOT Burn the Following Items:

Rubbish
Tires
Treated Lumber
Particle Board
Railroad Ties
Plastics
Flammable Liquids
Foam
Rubber
BURN PERMIT APPLICATION

Burn Barrels

Burn Barrels are permitted in conjunction with opening burning. Burn Barrels are NOT allowed on parcels that are smaller than 1 acre in accordance with regulations for open burning.

Burn barrels are permissible and shall be no larger than a 55-gallon metal drum in good condition. 

Barrels shall have a screen made of no less than 14-gauge wire and openings no more than ¼ inches in diameter. Screens must be securely affixed to the top of the barrel or weighted down by a non-combustible object that prevents it from being blown off by a 10-mph wind (maximum wind speed allowed for open burning). 

Barrels must be placed on a sturdy non-combustible surface and a minimum of 25 feet around the barrel must be cleared of all combustible materials. 

Burning of clean, woody, forest, range or natural vegetation is permitted. NO burning of plastics, rubber, chemicals or anything that produces black or toxic smoke.
burn barrel

Recreational Fires

A permit is NOT required from the Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District for recreational fires at one-, two-, and multi-family dwellings.

A recreational fire is an outdoor fire where materials other than rubbish are being burned and it is not contained in an incinerator, outdoor fireplace, portable outdoor fireplace, barbeque grill or barbeque pit or fire ring. The Fire Code defines a recreational fire as being intended for cooking, warmth, religious, pleasure, ceremonial or other special purposes. A recreational fire shall not have a total fuel area greater than 3 feet in diameter and must be 2 feet or less in height.

IFC 307.4.2 Recreational fires shall not be conducted within 25 feet of a structure or combustible material. Conditions that could cause a fire to spread within 25 feet of a structure shall be eliminated prior to ignition.

IFC 307.5 Attendance. Open burning, recreational fires and use of portable outdoor fireplaces shall be constantly attended until the fire is extinguished. A minimum of one portable fire extinguisher with a minimum 4-A rating or other approved on-site fire extinguishing equipment such as dirt, sand, water barrel, garden hose or water truck, shall be available for immediate utilization.

Recreational Fires

Fuel source must be no larger than 3' wide x 2' high; cannot be conducted within 25 feet of a structure or combustible material.

recreational fire

DO NOT Burn the Following Items:

Rubbish
Tires
Treated Lumber
Particle Board
Railroad Ties
Plastics
Flammable Liquids
Foam
Rubber

Outdoor Fireplaces/ Fire Pits

A permit is NOT required from the Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District for the use of outdoor fireplaces or fire pits at one- and two-family dwellings.

IFC 307.4.3 Portable outdoor fireplaces. Portable outdoor fireplaces shall be used in accordance with the manufactures instructions and shall not be operated within 15 feet of a structure or combustible material.

Exception: Portable outdoor fireplaces used at one- and two-family dwellings.

IFC 307.5 Attendance. Open burning, recreational fires and use of portable outdoor fireplaces shall be constantly attended until the fire is extinguished. A minimum of one portable fire extinguisher with a minimum 4-A rating or other approved on-site fire extinguishing equipment such as dirt, sand water barrel, garden hose or water truck, shall be available for immediate utilization.

Portable Outdoor Fire Pit

Must be used according to manufacturer's specification and cannot be used within 15 feet of a structure or combustible material. Exception - Portable Outdoor Fireplaces used at one- and two-family dwellings.

portable fire pit

Fire Pits

No larger than 3' wide x 2' high inside diameter; cannot be constructed within 25 feet of a structure or combustible material.

fire pit

DO NOT Burn the Following Items:

Rubbish
Tires
Treated Lumber
Particle Board
Railroad Ties
Plastics
Flammable Liquids
Foam
Rubber

Green Waste Disposal

Green waste can be disposed of year-round at one of the Waste Management Drop-off locations.

Waste Management Drop Off Locations
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Waste Management FAQs

Q: 

What should I do with bulky items or appliances that I want to dispose of?

A: 

Washoe County residential customers who are current with their bill may dispose of one standard pickup truck with municipal solid waste four (4) times a year at no cost. Customers may utilize this service any day and time during normal business hours at the Stead Transfer Station, at the Commercial Row Transfer Station or the Lockwood Landfill.

Bulk waste pick-up is available at your home on an optional basis and charged at a per yard rate that is found in the rate table.

Excess waste contained in a 32-gallon bag, box or bundle (not to exceed 3’ x 3’ x 3’ or 50 pounds) can be placed at the curb for collection, using one of the excess waste stickers. A sticker must accompany each 32-gallon bag, box or bundle. If customers regularly exceed the trash cart limit, customers should consider adding an additional cart to their service or purchasing additional stickers. Call customer service at 775.329.8822, to add another cart or to purchase more stickers.

Q: 

What do I do with my green waste?

A: 

You can place your green waste in your garbage cart. If you have excess green waste, you can place a 32-gallon bag at the curb with one of your excess waste stickers. If you have a large amount of green waste, it can be disposed of at one of the two transfer stations or the Lockwood Landfill.

You may also add an additional waste or recycling cart(s) to your service for a fee by calling customer service at (775) 329-8822.

Fireworks

All fireworks are illegal in Washoe County.

Possession, use, and/or the sale of fireworks is a violation of the Fire Code. Any fire started (ignited) by fireworks that causes, threatens, and/or damages life and/or property is a violation of the Fire Code, Nevada Revised Statutes, and could be subject to felony arson charges.

Illegal possession or use of fireworks can result in fines up to $1,000 and/or up to six months in jail for each offense. In addition, the cost of suppression, and any other injury or liability cause by fireworks, are the direct responsibility of those persons using fireworks.

Sky Lanterns

Sky Lanterns are ILLEGAL in Washoe County.

IFC 308.1.6.3

Sky lanterns are defined as any unmanned device with a fuel source that incorporates an open flame in order to make the device airborne.

The use of sky lanterns is prohibited by the Truckee Meadows Fire Code and Nevada Revised Statutes.

IFC 308.1.6.3 Sky lanterns. Sky lanterns are prohibited.

Misuse of Fire

Any misuse of fire or non-permitted ignitions that causes, threatens, or damages life and/or property is a violation of the Truckee Meadows Fire Code and could also be a violation of Nevada Revised Statutes and subject to additional charges.

IFC 110.4 Violation Penalties. Persons who shall violate a provision of this code or shall fail to comply with any of the requirements thereof or who shall erect, install, alter, repair or do work in violation of the approved construction documents or directive of the fire code official, or of a permit or certificate used under provisions of this code, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) or by imprisonment not exceeding six (6) months, or both such fine and imprisonment. Each day that a violation continues after due notice has been served shall be deemed a separate offense.

NRS 475.010 Willful or negligent failure to guard or extinguish fire; penalty.Every person who willfully or negligently sets or fails to guard carefully or extinguish any fire, whether on the person’s own land or the land of another, whereby the timber or property of another is endangered is guilty of a misdemeanor.

NRS 475.020 Willful or negligent failure to extinguish fire in open; penalty. Every person who, upon departing from camp or from any fire started by the person in the open, willfully or negligently leaves the fire or fires burning or unexhausted, or fails to extinguish them thoroughly, is guilty of a misdemeanor.

NRS 475.030 Throwing burning cigarette or other material from moving vehicle; willful or negligent placing of burning materials; penalty.

1. It is unlawful for any person willfully or negligently:
a. To throw or place any lighted cigarette, cigar, ashes, match or other material which may cause a fire in any place where such lighted cigarette, cigar, match, ashes or other material may start a fire.

b. To throw or otherwise discard from a moving vehicle any lighted cigarette, cigar, ash or other material which may cause a fire.

2. Any person violating any of the provisions of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor.
NRS 205.020 Third degree. A person who willfully and maliciously sets fire to or burns or causes to be burned, or who aids, counsels or procures the burning of:
1. Any unoccupied personal property of another which has the value of $25 or more;
2. Any unoccupied personal property owned by him or her in which another person has a legal interest; or
3. Any timber, forest, shrubbery, crops, grass, vegetation or other flammable material not his or her own, is guilty of arson in the third degree which is a category D felony and shall be punished as provided in NRS 193.130.

Outdoor Cooking Devices

A permit is NOT required from the Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District for the use of outdoor cooking devices at one- and two-family dwellings.

308.1.4 Open-flame cooking devices. Charcoal burners and other open-flame cooking devices shall not be operated on combustible balconies or within 10 feet (3048 mm) of combustible construction.

Exceptions:
1. One- and two-family dwellings.
2. Where buildings, balconies and decks are protected by an automatic sprinkler system.
3. LP-gas cooking devices having LP-gas container with a water capacity not greater than 21/2 pounds [nominal 1 pound (0.454 kg) LP-gas capacity].
truckee meadows fire
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