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10/24/2006: "Burning Allowed Again -With A Permit!"

(Candy Bowers fills out an application for a burn permit, as Carolyn Hudson with the Fire Marshal's Office answers questions)

The rains are back, and so are Open Burning Permits. Some changes have been made since last year, and a big one is the size of allowed fires. The unrealistic 4 foot diameter circle has been increased, and now fires may be as large as10 feet in diameter, The cost for a Residential Permit is only $10.00, and is good until June 30, 2007.
The rest of the rules will seem familiar, and the high points are:

• Only one pile may be burned at a time.
• There must be a charged water hose and shovel at the site. If a water hose is not available, other means may be allowed.
• Fires must be at least 50 feet from any structure.
• There must be a responsible adult in attendance at all times while burning. The fire must be completely extinguished before leaving it unattended.
• Do not burn if wind is blowing more than 10 miles per hour.
• Before lighting any fire, call the SJ County burn Information line at 376-6600 provide your location and phone number. This helps prevent false alarms.
• No fires are allowed when the fire danger is HIGH or when there is a declared BURN BAN.
• Do not bum paper, lumber, rubber products, plastics, asphalt, paint, garbage, petroleum products, dead animals, cardboard or any material that emits black smoke or an offensive odor.

When you fill out the form to obtain a permit, the Conditions of Permit will list all of the rules and instructions. Happy burning of all of those yard and garden clippings that have been piling up all summer and fall.