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Open Burn Permits Required to Burn in Santa Fe County

Santa Fe – April 29, 2010 – Santa Fe County and the Fire Prevention Division would like to remind residents that if they are planning to do yard cleaning by means of burning, an Open Burn Permit is required. An Open Burn Permit is also required for bonfires and ceremonial/sweat lodge fires larger than a 3 ft. in diameter.

Open Burn Permits are free and available from any of the 14 County Fire Districts or the Santa Fe County Fire Prevention Division located at 22 Bisbee Court (Turquoise Trail Business Park). “We’re very cautious when it comes to open burning”, says Deputy Chief /Fire Marshal David Sperling, “Vegetation burning in residential areas is of particular concern, there are terms and conditions that residents need to follow because of warmer weather conditions and overly dry vegetation”

Open Burn Permits are only for vegetation (weeds, branches, etc.). Burning trash is not permitted in Santa Fe County. If you burn without a permit or do not follow the terms and conditions of the Open Burn Permit and lose control of your fire, you may be held responsible for property damages and the cost of suppression. It is important to remember if winds exceed 10 mph or there is a Red Flag warning for Santa Fe County, your permit is void. You can check daily to see if it is a Red Flag warning day at www.santafecountynm.gov and look in the top right corner.

Please reference the district you reside in for Open Burn Permit pick-up locations:

Agua Fria: Monday-Friday, 8:00am to 5:00pm, 58 CR 62, call (505) 471-3473 prior to permit pick up or Monday – Friday, Santa Fe County Fire Prevention Office, 22 Bisbee Court

Chimayo: First and third Saturday of the month, 226 Juan Medina Road (CR 98)

Edgewood: Monday – Thursday, 9:00am to 3:00pm, 25 East Frontage Road

Eldorado: Wednesday, 7:00pm to 9:00pm, 144 Avenida Vista Grande (pre-inspection required)

Galisteo: Contact Chief Moya, (505) 466-0396 and leave a message (24-hour request prior to burn)

Glorieta Pass: Tuesday, 7:15pm to 9:15pm, 43 Firestation Road or Contact Chief McSweeney, (505) 490-0145

Hondo: Saturday, 8:00 to 10:00am; 21 Seton Village Road

La Cienega: Monday-Friday, 8:00am to 5:00pm, Santa Fe County Fire Prevention Office, 22 Bisbee Court

La Puebla: Monday – Friday, 12:00pm to 3:00pm, 17919 US 84/285 (across from Dairy Queen) or the second Saturday of the Month, 8:00am to 9:00am, 31 Firehouse Road

Madrid: Monday – Friday, 8:00am to 5:00pm, Santa Fe County Fire Prevention Office, 22 Bisbee Court

Pojoaque: Monday – Friday, 12:00pm to 3:00pm, and first Thursday and Friday of every month, 5:00 to 7:00pm, 17191 US 84/285 (across from Dairy Queen)

Stanley: Contact Chief Mitchel, (505) 249-5082

Tesuque: Wednesday, 7:00pm to 9:00pm (except last Wednesday of month), 4 Senda del Fuego

Turquoise Trail: Contact Tom MacDonell, (505) 471-9298

If you live in the Rio Arriba side of Chimayo, you can obtain an Open Burn Permit from the Rio Arriba County Fire Marshal’s Office, 1122 Industrial Park Road, in Espanola or (505) 747-6367.

During the fire season it is possible that the Santa Fe County Fire Marshal and the 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. If burn restrictions are imposed and you have an Open Burn Permit, your permit is void and will need to be renewed once restrictions are lifted. This information will be posted on the County web site and an announcement will be made through local media.

For more information on Open Burning in Santa Fe County, contact the Fire Prevention Division, (505)995-6523 or visit www.santafecountynm.gov/fire .