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Albuquerque - Official City Website

Open Burn Program

Photo of a pile of debris being burned

The Open Burn Program regulates open outdoor burning in order to limit pollution. Bonfires, cooking, and burning piled vegetative material are conditionally allowed, i.e. no air quality permit needed. The conditions include time restrictions, notifying the fire department, complying with fire safety codes, and possibly obtaining a fire department permit. Research and development activities, explosives, fire fighter/rescue training, forest management, etc require a permit from the Air Quality Division. Open burning of trash and junk is prohibited.

Environmentally poor burning substances produce dense, noxious, and/or toxic fumes and smoke and must not be burned. Environmentally poor burning substances include but are not limited to: refuse, paper, rubbish, books, magazines, fiberboard, packaging, rags, fabrics, animal waste, waste oil, liquid or gelatinous hydrocarbons, tar, paints and solvents, chemically treated wood, plastic or rubber, compact discs and other electronic media, hazardous or toxic substances, and interiors of wrecked vehicle bodies.

Prior to burning, there are two recordings that residents of the Albuquerque metro area must call. The Environmental Health Department is concerned with pollution and maintains a recording at (505) 768-BURN (2876). On winter No-Burn advisory days that are Red, no open burning is allowed. The Fire Department is concerned with safety (e.g. wind and drought) and maintains a separate recording at (505) 468-7200. Both authorities must be obeyed. In other words, if one of the messages says it’s okay to burn and the other message says it’s NOT okay, then it is NOT okay to burn.

For conditionally allowed burning of dead and dry weeds as well as piled vegetative material, burn hours are from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. October 1st through March 31st, and 6:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. April 1st through September 30th. There are no time restrictions on bonfires or cooking. At any time the Fire Department can request that you end your burning activities. In addition to calling the burn line recordings, notify the local Fire Station before you drop the match. You don’t want the fire department responding to the smoke from your fire when there’s a real emergency somewhere else!

Dead and dry weed removal must be limited to 10 acres per day. Piled vegetative material must be limited to 1000 cubic feet per day. Burning more than 10 acres or 1000 cubic feet per day triggers the smoke management/prescribed burning part of the open burning regulation and requires a prescribed burning permit. Due to the paperwork involved and special requirements, prescribed burning permits are generally the province of the Forest Service and other land management agencies.

For residents of unincorporated areas of Bernalillo County: Permits are not required for small cooking fires or burning of dry tumbleweeds in piles no larger than 3 feet by 3 feet. Burning anything else requires a permit from the Bernalillo County Fire Marshal’s Office.

Summary of steps for burners:

  • Call 768-2876. If burning isn’t allowed in fireplaces, open burning isn’t allowed either.
  • Call 468-7200. This recording says it’s for the County. It also applies to the City.
  • Call your local fire station: http://www.cabq.gov/fire/stations.html
  • Tell the fire station your plan and inquire about safety codes and any permits that might be needed from the Fire Dept/Fire Marshal’s Office.
  • Heed the time restrictions and fire department safety codes.

More Open Burn Information

 

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