Burn Permits

Please be aware, the Superstition Fire & Medical District does not issue burn permits.  Pinal County Air Quality issues all burn permits within fire district boundaries.

If you are in Apache Junction area, a permit can be obtained at the Pinal County Complex in Apache Junction.

Pinal County Air Quality
575 N. Idaho Rd., Suite 800
Apache Junction, AZ 85119
Click here for Google Map

(520) 866-6929

Monday ~ 8:30am-3:30pm
and
Thursday ~ 8:30am-12:30pm

Burning Restrictions Lifted October 1, 2021, through April 30, 2022

The Superstition Fire & Medical District (SFMD), in cooperation with Pinal County Air Quality, will cease Open Burning restrictions effective October 1, 2021. Outdoor cooking fires and small recreational or warming fires do not require a permit. All other burning requires a valid burn permit as issued by Pinal County Air Quality.

As always, we encourage all citizens to be mindful of their surroundings when planning or implementing any type of recreational or permitted fire. Keep children and animals away from the fire and have the required extinguishing equipment immediately available. Please remember that general household trash and garbage cannot be burned in recreational or permitted fires.

The State of Arizona (area “A” designation) requires that open burning be restricted from May 1st through September 30th each year. It is anticipated that open burning will remain in effect through April 30, 2022 however if conditions are dryer than normal, burn restrictions could be implemented sooner.

These guidelines and restrictions apply to all City and County areas within the SFMD boundaries. Any questions regarding these restrictions should be directed to the SFMD – Fire Prevention Division at (480) 982-4440 ext. 162.

For more information about burn permits, please visit Pinal County Air Quality.

Click here to view the Pinal County Area “A” Burning Brochure

Burn Permit Conditions

1. Burn permit must be in a person’s possession while they are burning. The burn permit allows burning of vegetative materials (Yard Maintenance Trimmings) that are generated only from the property listed on this permit and conducted by or for the occupants of residential dwellings, but does not include the burning of household waste or prohibited materials (noted below).
2. Allowable burn hours: 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. April 1 through Sept. 30; 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. October 1 through March 31.
3. Wind speed: While burning, wind shall not be less than 5 miles per hour or greater than 15 miles per hour.
4. Distance: Burning pit, burning pile, or approved waste burner must be at least 50 ft from any dwelling unit.
5. Fire control: Burning must be constantly attended, with reasonable control tools (water or dirt) on hand at all times.
6. Completely extinguish fire prior to the time designated above.
7. Fire size: Recreational fires total fuel area of 3 ft or less in diameter & 2 ft or less in height.
8. Igniting: Use items that do not cause the production of black smoke.
9. The permittee is solely responsible for complying with fire dept./district requirements or restrictions. If you are not in a fire dept./district please call the State Forester at 1-800-309-7081 prior to burning.
10. Whenever a High Pollution Advisory has been issued burning is prohibited in Area A (Apache Junction, Gold Canyon, San Tan Valley, Queen Creek). Visit http://pinalcountyaz.gov/Departments/AirQuality/Pages/AirQualityReport.aspx to determine if a High Pollution Advisory has been issued. Homes with wood burning as the sole source of heat may still burn.
11. Burning that creates a nuisance or generates noxious fumes is forbidden.
12. No refunds or permit extensions, even if burning is banned and permit authority suspended.
13. The Control Officer may cancel this permit, pursuant to Code 3-8-700.F, during periods of inadequate smoke dispersion or visibility impairment, or if smoke is causing a nuisance.

BURNING ANY OF THE FOLLOWING IS PROHIBITED:

• Non-paper garbage from the processing, storage, service, or consumption of food
• Chemically treated wood  or lead painted wood
• Linoleum flooring or composite counter-tops
• Tires, waste petroleum products, crankcase oil, transmission oil & filters, transformer oils, batteries, and anti-freeze
• Explosives or ammunition
• Asphalt shingles, tar paper
• Plastic & rubber products, plastic bags & retail bags, bottles for household chemicals
• Oleanders
• Asbestos
• Aerosol spray cans
• Electrical wire insulation, thermal insulation, polyester products
• Paints, pesticides, cleaners, solvents, stains, varnishes & other flammable liquids
• Plastic pesticide bags & containers
• Hazardous material containers including those that contained lead, cadmium, mercury, or arsenic compounds ARS 13-1706 Reckless Burning (Burning of Wildlands; Exceptions; Classification)

Arizona Revised Statute On Open Burning

Arizona Revised Statute 49-501.A (revised in the fall of 2007) reads as follows:

“From May 1 through September 30 each year, it is unlawful for any person to ignite, cause to be ignited, permit to be ignited, or suffer, allow or maintain any open outdoor fire in area ‘A’ as defined in section 49-541.”

Area ‘A’ includes anything west of Florence Junction and north of Arizona Farms Road, continuing into Maricopa County including all of the Superstition Fire & Medical District jurisdiction.

This is NOT a Pinal County or SFMD mandate, but rather an Arizona State Legislative mandate.