Happy Friday, FAC Community!
We hope that you enjoyed your short week - the newsletter took a brief hiatus for the holiday celebrations as well, so please enjoy this Wildfire Wednesday alternative, Fire Friday!
While walking around the yard recently enjoying clear skies and sunshine on a crisp fall afternoon, my eyes couldn’t help but drift to the garden bed full of frost-killed plants, the side yard covered in tree leaves, and the tall weeds along the driveway. Even on a small residential plot, vegetative yard waste builds up over the course of the year. For folks with many acres, agricultural plots, or those living in the WUI who have to thin and prune trees and bushes, this waste can seem unmanageable. Where do we start, what do we do with all of this organic matter, and how do we stay mindful of our community and wildfire risks and readiness throughout?
This Fire Friday features:
Disposing of organic yard waste
Funding opportunities
Take care and be well,
Rachel
The Risks of Open Burning
What is open burning?
"Open burning" means the burning of any materials wherein contaminants resulting from combustion are emitted directly into the ambient air without passing through a stack, duct, or chimney. Mobile cooking devices such as manufactured hibachis, charcoal grills, wood smokers, and propane or natural gas devices are not defined as “open burning.” In simple terms, open burning [excepting recreational fires and “backyard burning” (burning of rubbish and other hazardous waste)] refers to burning flammable material, such as agricultural or yard vegetative debris, in an uncontained manner, such as burning fields or piling and burning yard waste. New Mexico’s Open Burn Program regulates open outdoor burning in order to limit pollution, decrease the chance of fire damage to property and injuries.
How do people start fires?
Some common ways that people start fires which can grow rapidly include:
Burning Debris - Escaped embers from burning piles of debris or vegetation from yard clean-up can carry for many miles without extinguishing on a windy day. Pay close attention to weather conditions and take caution to burn debris safely. Follow local ordinances and state laws which are designed with prevention criteria.
Unattended Campfires – Many people associate camping with happy memories. Keep it that way by not setting up under trees or near houses, and not setting up on a windy day. Take extra care to extinguish the fire completely by pouring water, stirring, pouring more water and stirring until its cold to the back of your hand.
Cigarettes - A single cigarette butt carelessly discarded is all it can take to ignite and destroy thousands of acres of land. As cannabis is legal in New Mexico, it’s also a good idea to maybe just finish that joint. Whatever your preference, stub it out or step it out and throw it in the nearest trashcan.
Vehicles – Fires can be started by both driving and parking your vehicle on a hot day. When driving, make sure your tow chains are tight and not dragging on the concrete. When pulling over or parking, avoid dry grass. The heat from your car’s undercarriage can ignite the grass. Only park over gravel, dirt or sand. All vehicles should carry a fire extinguisher.
Tools and Equipment – working outside with tools and equipment on a hot, dry, and windy day is one of the leading causes of human wildfire starts in the state. Be careful with chainsaws, circular/portable saws, and even table saws set up over dry grassy areas. Use your equipment’s spark arrester as designed. A welding blanket or screen can keep sparks contained.. When working outside, keep a fire extinguisher and shovel nearby.
Powerlines – Dead or wind-fallen trees on powerlines pose a danger to communities. Landowners should always make sure to allow utility companies to do their work and thin within utility rights-of-way.
Keep these in mind as you venture forth into the great outdoors this summer and fall. Take a little time to be smart in your surroundings and remember that New Mexico’s hot and dry conditions can turn small mistakes into huge catastrophes.
Why is open burning risky?
Open burning has many cultural ties and traditional uses in New Mexico; however, it has been linked both health and wildfire risks.
Smoke impacts: Smoke can cause respiratory issues, reduce visibility, and contribute to health problems for residents. Particle pollution from the burning of organic material can affect everyone, but people with lung disease, including asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), or people with heart disease are the most vulnerable. Particle pollution can trigger asthma attacks, increase symptoms of COPD and cause coughing, wheezing, and chest tightness. For people with heart disease, particle pollution is linked to heart attacks, irregular heartbeat, heart failure, and stroke. This is especially concerning during periods of poor ventilation or when smoke accumulates in populated areas.
Distribution of human-caused ignitions sources by percent of total ignitions.
Fire risk: Wildfires typically start due to a combination of dry vegetation, hot conditions, and an ignition source. Human ignitions, or human started fires that become wildfires, are to blame for ~97% of wildfires that threaten homes in the U.S. and ~84% of all wildfires. Research points to debris and open burning as the origin of around 40% of all human ignitions, the largest single source. With the wrong weather conditions, burning yard debris can be caught in a wind gust, causing the flames to spread to unwanted, unprepared, or highly flammable areas, starting new fires. Insufficiently extinguished fires also pose a fire risk. Smoldering embers can persist in piles or underground for days or longer, appearing “out” only to catch in the wind and start a new fire elsewhere.
Proper administration of open burning, notification of local fire fighting resources, and following all regulations and recommendations are ways that residents of the state can continue to utilize open burning in the safest manner.
How to Burn Safely
View the full program: SM_OBBrochure.pub
The following guidelines are taken from the New Mexico State regulations 20.2.60 NMAC – Open Burning and 20.2.65 NMAC – Smoke Management. The Open Burning Regulations apply if you burn no more than 10 acres or 1,000 cubic feet of piled vegetative material in a day; Smoke Management applies if you plan to burn more than 10 acres or 1,000 cubic feet (if piled) in one day.
Some local resources are listed at the end of this section. Always contact your local fire department or Forestry Division office if you are unsure of the regulations and requirements for open burning in your area.
Best practices
Notification: Check your local regulations - some counties and cities require that individuals obtain a burn permit and give advance notification to their local fire department or appropriate firefighting authority before burning. If the burn is larger than 1 acre or 100 cubic feet of piled material, notify neighbors within 1/4 mile.
Time of day: Burn between one hour after sunrise and one hour before sunset.
Distance from neighbors: Maintain a minimum distance of 300 feet from neighbors.
Distance from structures: Generally, no burning is allowed within 50 feet of structure or combustible materials.
Hazardous waste: Only burn hazardous waste if authorized by RCRA rules or permits.
Fire extinguishing equipment: Have a charged water source or fire extinguisher readily accessible.
Wind: Generally, winds may not exceed 10 miles per hour. This varies across the state; for example, in Albuquerque, winds must not exceed 15 mph.
Burn pile size: Check your local regulations; in Albuquerque, burn piles must be no larger than 3 feet in diameter and 3 feet or less in height, while in Taos, piles may not be larger than 10 x 10 feet with 1,000 cubic feet being burned at any one time.
Fire attendance: Continually attend the fire until it is completely extinguished.
Air quality rules: Follow state air quality rules and local ordinances.
Exceptions
Open burning of household waste (not including yard waste, weeds, etc.) is prohibited.
Recreational and ceremonial burning, campfires, fireplaces, and other types of burning are unrestricted, with one exception: burning of explosive materials that cannot be safely removed are covered by a section on emergency burning.
Restrictions on burning issued by fire safety authorities to prevent wildfires will supersede any permission to burn in the Open Burning regulation.
All burning of vegetative material has the same requirements, regardless of the purpose or who is doing the burning. This includes small-scale prescribed and agricultural burning as well as burning of yard waste by individual householders.
This rule applies to burning of vegetative material when 10 acres or less of non-piled material is burned per day, or when the amount of piled material burned per day is 1,000 cubic feet or less of pile volume.
Regional resources
Visit the Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department's (EMNRD) Forestry Division’s website to view current fire restrictions.
Local resources
Santa Fe County open burning pamphlet and terms and conditions/permitting
Albuquerque Open Burning guidelines and Bernalillo County Open Burn Permit
Taos County open burning information
Las Vegas legislation on open burning
San Miguel County Fire Ordinance and Burn Permit
Mora County and Moreno Valley guidelines and permitting
Lincoln County Open Burning Ordinance and additional resources
Alternatives to Open Burning
Image courtesy of San Jose Environmental Services
An alternative to burning is any method of removing or reducing fuels by mechanical, biological, or chemical treatments that replaces the use of fire. There are many alternatives - chipping, shredding, composting, and other methods all help reduce yard trimmings. Many cities have curbside pickup of green waste, especially if they have a No Burn perimeter. Visiting Earth 911 is a good step to help you find your local options and alternatives for disposal.
Chipping/grinding/shredding: Chipped or masticated (shredded) vegetation can be used in mulch or compost. The smaller pieces of organic material break down (decay) more quickly than whole tree limbs or logs, reducing the amount of time during which they pose a fire conduit. As mulch, chips provide moisture retention, temperature moderation and weed control. As compost, the chips return nutrients to the soil. Some communities may offer chipping services, often in the form of Fire Adapted Communities Chipper Days, or allow residents to drop off yard waste for chipping. Chipping is best applied to larger yard waste, such as logs and branches, while grinding (e.g. tub grinder or horizontal grinder) is best for material that may contain dirt or other contaminants such as leaves and root balls.
Compost: Composting is a great way to dispose of yard trimmings and food scraps, while creating a natural, free fertilizer. If you have an interest in personal composting, many communities offer weekend classes on how to compost, and some even provide composting bins at a reduced cost or show you how to build your own. Municipal compost centers, or privately-owned centers that partner with local municipalities, may also offer compost pick up or have a listing of locations where green waste is accepted for drop off. Be aware that some facilities which accept food scraps may not accept vegetative waste and vice versa.
Mechanical mixing: Plowing and tilling of vegetation left after harvesting in an agricultural field, or application of approved herbicides in conjunction with mechanical removal of vegetation can reduce standing dead vegetation while enriching the soil into which it is mixed.
Commercial green waste disposal: Many municipalities offer curbside yard waste pickup services in the late autumn, making disposal convenient. Check local guidelines for timing (typically late November - mid-December) and bagging requirements as yard waste may be required to be placed in biodegradable bags or specific bins for collection. Many municipalities also have Transfer Stations which accept a variety of household waste, including green waste, or dedicated green waste convenience centers. The material obtained by municipalities is typically processed into mulch to be used in city/municipal landscaping or erosion control projects.
Livestock grazing: Livestock grazing, something which has gained traction as a fire control alternative in recent years, can be considered a form of green waste disposal when managed properly, as animals (e.g. goats) consume unwanted vegetation, cleaning up the area while simultaneously providing manure that acts as a natural fertilizer, improving soil health and reducing the need for chemical fertilizers. However, overgrazing can have detrimental and unintended impacts, so careful management practices are crucial to utilize grazing as a sustainable waste disposal method.
Contained burning: Incinerators, such as air curtain burners, burn vegetative debris in a partially enclosed space with an open top over which a high-speed flow (or ‘curtain’) of air is directed. The result is an almost smokeless burning activity, with nearly complete combustion of all debris. Container burners may be available for rent from your local Soil and Water Conservation District, and more information may be available from your local Forestry Division office.
Funding Opportunities
FACNM Microgrant Funding
FAC NM Microgrants are available to help you fund your community fire preparedness event!
FAC NM Leaders and Members are eligible to apply for grants awards of up to $2,000 to provide financial assistance for:
convening wildfire preparedness events,
enabling on-the-ground community fire risk mitigation work,
developing grant proposals for the sustainable longevity of their Fire Adapted Community endeavor, or
other events or efforts related to community wildfire adaptation.
Round 4 of funding is open! Applications will be accepted October 30 - December 15. Successful applicants will be notified of their award by early January 2025. Apply for a microgrant now and/or join the network to be eligible for funding.
Community Wildfire Defense Grants
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service is accepting applications for the Community Wildfire Defense Grant program to assist at-risk communities, including tribes and Alaska Native Corporations, with planning for and mitigating wildfire risks. Now in its third year, this competitive program is funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law as part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s Investing in America Agenda.
Out of the up to $200 million available, individual grants of up to $250,000 can be used to develop and update community wildfire protection plans, while individual grants of up to $10 million can be used for wildfire resilience projects that implement community wildfire protection plans. Projects must be completed within five years of the award. The number of projects selected will be determined by available funding, which is up to $200 million.
Start your CWDG application journey by visiting the FAC Net Primer on Community Wildfire Defense Grants. Notices of funding opportunities are available on Grants.gov. Applications will be accepted until 11:59 p.m., Eastern Standard Time on February 28, 2025. Applicants are strongly encouraged to develop proposals in consultation with state or Forest Service regional cooperative fire contacts listed in the Notices of Funding Opportunity.