Marble Falls Fire Rescue
700 Avenue N
Marble Falls, TX 78654

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830-693-4060

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911

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Burn Permits
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BURN PERMITS ARE NOW AVAILABLE.

In order to obtain a Burn Permit, call (830) 693-4060:
Personnel will come out and inspect the burn site.

Permits are good for the day of the burn only unless other arrangements are made.

Outdoor Burning Regulations
BURN DAY:	Determined by the on Duty Captain or Fire Marshal. Requirements: Wind speed forecast of 20 mph or less, no burn ban in effect other rules apply (see rules 1-7 below).
GENERAL:	Open burning shall be conducted as required by other governing agencies regulating emissions, i.e. Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. ONLY natural materials shall be burned.
CLEARANCES:	Open burning shall not be conducted within 50 feet of any structure or other combustible materials, i.e. trees, bushes, power lines, etc.
PILE SIZE:	The burn pile shall be no larger than 10 feet in diameter and 4 feet in height (for residential).
ATTENDANCE:	A competent person shall continuously attend the burn pile until the fire is extinguished. This person shall have a garden hose connected to a water supply or other approved fire extinguishing equipment readily available for use.
HOURS:	The initiation of burning shall commence no earlier than one hour after sunrise. Burning shall be completed on the same day not later than one hour before sunset *A FIRE IS ANY AMOUNT OF HEAT WHICH CAN PRODUCE SMOKE OR FLAME
DISCONTINUANCE:	The Fire Marshal is authorized to require that open burning be immediately discontinued if the Fire Marshal determines that smoke emissions are offensive to occupants surrounding property or if the open burning is determined to constitute a hazardous condition.

Outdoor burning shall be limited to the burning of brush, grass, leaves, trees and vegetation generated only from the property where the burn is to take place. Electrical insulation, treated lumber, plastics, non-wood construction/demolition materials, heavy oils, asphaltic materials, potentially explosive materials, chemical wastes, tires, natural or synthetic rubber and household garbage shall not be burned.
Burning shall be commenced and conducted only when wind direction and other meteorological conditions are such that smoke and other pollutants will not cause adverse effects to any public road, landing strip, navigable water, or off-site structure containing sensitive receptor(s).
If at any time the burning causes or may tend to cause smoke to blow onto or across a road or highway so as to obscure the vision of motorist the fire shall be extinguished.
Burning must be conducted downwind of or at least three hundred (300) feet (ninety (90) meters) from any structure containing sensitive receptors located on adjacent properties unless prior written approval is obtained from the adjacent occupant with possessory control. Evidence of such written permission shall be located on the site of the burn.
Burning shall be conducted in compliance with the following meteorological and timing considerations:
1. The initiation of burning shall commence no earlier than one (1) hour after sunrise and be completed on the same day not later than one (1) hour before sunset. A responsible party shall be present at all times during the active burn phase and when the fire is progressing. In cases where residual fires and/or smoldering objects continue to emit smoke after this time, such areas shall be extinguished if the smoke from these areas has the potential to create a nuisance or traffic hazard condition. In no case shall the extent of the burn area be allowed to increase after this time.
2. Burning shall not be commenced when surface wind speed is predicted to be less than six (6) miles per hour (mph) (five (5) knots) or greater than twenty-three (23) mph (twenty (20) knots) during the burn period.
3. Burning shall not be conducted during periods of actual or predicted persistent low-level atmospheric temperature inversions.
A garden hose connected to a water supply or other approved extinguishing equipment shall be readily available for use at open-burning sites.
Due to radiant heat the burn area must be no closer than fifty (50) feet from any structure.

Frequently asked questions about burn bans.

1. Who issues a Burn Ban?
a. A Burn Ban can be issued by a City or County.
b. Each Ban is specific based on the needs of the City or County.
c. Burn Bans can be permanent or run for a specified period of time.
d. The County usually issues a Burn Ban based on atmospheric conditions factoring in the relative humidity and wind conditions.

2. Why is the Burn Ban still on after a rain?
a. In the winter vegetation is dormant and does not take in moisture. Within a few hours after a rain, winds will dry the surface moisture from the vegetation allowing it to burn.

3. Does the City of Marble Falls enforce the County Burn Ban?
a. No; the Marble Falls Fire Rescue enforces the International Fire Code as adopted by the City Council.

4. Can I grill with my back yard grill?
a. Yes, we are encouraging everyone to use extreme caution when grilling outdoors while the drought conditions exist. Enclosed natural gas or LP gas grills and smokers are encouraged. Open topped charcoal grills are discouraged as sparks, discarded or unattended coals may cause a fire to occur.

5. Do I need a permit for outdoor welding or brazing of pipes?
a. Yes, Marble Falls allows outdoor welding and hot work with a permit and subject to the following conditions:
i. Provide an onsite water source (water hose) charged and within 10 feet on the operation. Or other adequate means to extinguish a fire such as a fire extinguisher.
ii. Operator must have a cell phone at the work site.
iii. The operator must remain at the site until it is safe to leave. iv. Any fire must be reported no matter the size or if extinguished. Failure to do so will result in a citation.

6. Can I use my outdoor patio fire place or patio-style fire place?
a. The answer here is it depends.
i. Yes, the use of outdoor fire places constructed in accordance with the International Building Code will be permitted.
ii. The use of open top/face patio-style fire pits are permitted if enclosed with a spark arresting screen.
iii. Yes, the use of enclosed chimineas are allowed.

7. Can I use Fire Works in the City of Marble Falls?
a. No, the possession, transportation or use of fireworks is prohibited by the International Fire Code. The City of Marble Falls has a year round ban on Fire Works.

8. How can I prepare and make my home safer during this drought.
a. Remove all dead and over grown vegetation within 10 feet of your home.
b. Remove all dead leaves and limbs within 10 feet of your home.
c. When smoking outdoors, place all spent smoking materials in an approved container.

9. How should I discard the ashes from my fire place or charcoal grill?
a. Ashes should be placed in a metal trash can with a lid and placed 10 feet from any structure including fences. The ashes may be placed in the city trash receptacle after 5 days of cooling.

10. Where do I report violations?
a. Contact the Marble Falls Fire Marshal’s office at 830-798-7075.
b. Open burning or careless acts with fire should be reported to 911.

12. What should I do if I see someone throwing a cigarette out of a vehicle?
a. Report it to Don’t Mess with Texas at www.dontmesswithtexas.org,
you will need to get the license number of the vehicle, and they will send the violator a reminder notice in the mail.

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