CREATE A SAFE ZONE
Backyard Fire Safety Guidelines Safety is essential for any type of burn, not just leaf burning. So keep these tips in mind when setting up for a cozy fall evening near the firepit. You do not want to be responsible for starting a wildfire or accidentally burning structures on your property. Always practice fire safety when you have an open flame, even if it’s small.
Before you even think about lighting that match, assess your surroundings. Clear a radius of at least 10 to 15 feet around your fire site, removing dry leaves, overhanging branches, or anything else flammable. This is your burn buffer. Choose a spot on bare soil or gravel, not grass or a wooden deck. Better yet, use a designated fire pit, barrel, or metal container.
NEVER LEAVE A FIRE UNATTENDED
This may seem like common sense, but unattended fires are one of the top causes of accidental wildfires. Regulations nearly always require that an adult remain present with tools for extinguishing the fire, such as a hose, shovel, or water buckets. Walking away from an active burn—even for a few minutes—is often a violation of local ordinances.
OBSERVE AIR QUALITY REGULATIONS
Local air quality plays a major role in determining when you can burn. On days when air pollution levels are high, burning may be restricted to avoid compounding respiratory issues for sensitive populations. Many counties designate “burn days” and “no-burn days” based on daily air quality indexes (AQI), especially in areas prone to smog or particulate pollution. COMPLY WITH DISTANCE AND CONTAINMENT RULES Just because you’re on your property doesn’t mean you can build a fire anywhere. Most regulations require a minimum distance between your fire and structures, fences, overhead lines, or wooded areas--and it might be further than you think. Similarly, containment rules often require fires to be built within designated fire pits, burn barrels, or stone rings, especially in urban and suburban settings.
BURN ONLY DRY MATERIALS
Only dry, natural yard debris—like sticks, branches, and leaves—should go into your fire. Burning green material can cause excessive smoke and smoldering, while wet material might not ignite at all, leaving you with a smoky mess and poor air quality. More importantly, never burn trash, plastic, pressure-treated wood, painted lumber, or furniture. These items release toxic fumes that are harmful to your health and the environment, and in many areas, it’s illegal to burn them.
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