Open Burning

Open Burning
(field clearings, branches, weeds, bon fires)

Open burning shall be conducted in accordance with Section 1102.3 of the 1997 Uniform Fire Code.

• Rubbish containing paper products is prohibited.

• Shall only be performed at the times and during weather conditions according to the limits set forth in the open-burning permit.
• Shall not be conducted within 50 feet of any structure or other combustible material. Conditions which could cause the fire to spread to within 50 feet of a structure shall be eliminated prior to ignition.
• A garden hose connected to a water supply or other approved fire-extinguishing equipment shall be readily available for use at open-burning sites.
• Burning material shall be constantly attended by a person knowledgeable in the use of the fire-extinguishing equipment required and familiar with the permit limitations which restrict open burning. An attendant shall supervise the burning material until the fire has been extinguished.
• The Santa Fe County Fire Marshal / Chief is authorized to require that open burning be immediately discontinued if the Santa Fe County Fire Marshal/Chief determines that smoke emissions are offensive to occupants of surrounding property or if the open burning is determined by the Santa Fe County Fire Marshal/Chief to constitute a hazardous condition.

Recreational Fires
(ceremonial, sweat lodges, non-commercial BBQ pits)

 Recreational fires shall be in accordance with Section 1102.4 of the 1997 Uniform Fire Code.

• Shall not be conducted within 25 feet of a structure or combustible material unless contained in a barbeque pit. Conditions which could cause a fire to spread within 25 feet of a structure shall be eliminated prior to ignition.
• Buckets, shovels, garden hoses or a fire extinguisher with a minimum 4-A rating shall be readily available for use at recreational fires.
• Shall be constantly attended by a person knowledgeable in the use of the fire-extinguishing equipment required. An attendant shall supervise a recreational fire until such fire has been extinguished.
• The Santa Fe County Fire Marshal/Chief is authorized to require that recreational fires by immediately discontinued if such fires are determined by the Santa Fe County Fire Marshal/Chief to constitute a hazardous condition.

Fireworks

The following list of permissible fireworks has been taken from Chapter 60, Article 2C, Section 7, as amended (2007) ("Fireworks Licensing and Safety Act") of the NMSA 1978.

Permissible Fireworks:

• Ground and hand-held sparkling and smoke devices:

Cone fountains, crackling devices, cylindrical fountains, flitterr sparklers, ground spinners, illuminating torches and wheels.

• Aerial Devices:

Aerial shell kit-reloadable tubes, aerial spinners, helicopters, mines, missile-type rockets, roman candles, shells, and stick-type rockets, except as provided in Subsection B (see below: Non-Permissible Fireworks).

• Ground Audible Devices:

Chasers, and firecrackers.

Non-Permissible Fireworks:

• Stick-type rockets having a tube less than a five-eighths inch OUTSIDE diameter and less than three and on-half inches in length.
• Fireworks intended for sale to the public that produce an audible effect, other than a whistle, by a charge of more than one hundred thirty milligrams of explosive composition per report.

Burn Restrictions

During fire season it is possible that the Santa Fe County Fire Marshal and Santa Fe Board of County Commissioners may declare hazardous fire conditions and impose fire restrictions on fireworks, open fires, smoking and other ignition sources within Santa Fe County.

Penalties and/or Fines
(per Ordinance 1998-11)

In addition to any penalty or other remedy provided by law, any person, corporation, entity or organization, found to have committed a violation of any of the provision of the Ordinance or adopted Codes, shall be punished by a fine of up to $300.00 or imprisonment up to six (6) months, or both a fine and imprisonment. Each-day on which the Ordinance or adopted Codes are violated shall constitute a separate violation.