A permit for a recreational fire may be issued upon compliance with applicable sections of the California Fire Code and the following requirements:

A. Permittee:
The applicant for the permit must be the property owner and must be present during all burning.

B. Material Restrictions:
Open burning of trash, rubbish, paper goods, flammable or combustible liquids, vegetation (slash), etc., is prohibited. Only wood or charcoal may be burned under this permit. At any time, if the materials being burnt produce offensive smoke or odor to surrounding properties, such recreational fire shall be extinguished. Starter liquid is allowed when used per the manufacturer’s recommendations.

C. Notification:
The permit holder is required to inquire about the fire hazard risk by either contacting the United States Forest Service (USFS) Fire Prevention desk (760) 924-5536 or at USFS Dispatch (760) 873-2405. Otherwise, you can visit the “Smokey Bear” sign as you enter Mammoth on Hwy 203 across from the Town/USFS Visitor Center, in front of the Mammoth RV Park. Burning shall not occur when the USFS has determined the fire hazard risk as “VERY HIGH” or “EXTREME.”

D. Time and atmospheric conditions:
Burning shall be performed only when time and atmospheric conditions comply with the limits outlined in this fire permit. In addition to the USFS fire hazard risk, the Fire District, due to inclement weather conditions or high winds that pose an increased fire hazard to the community, may temporarily discontinue fire permits. Fire permits may be suspended by other government entities regulating air emissions. Before burning, the permit holder must contact (760) 934-1010 and listen to the recording to ensure that air quality conditions are permissible for burning. Permitted recreational fires shall not be allowed to burn past midnight of the day initiated, or by any time period as established by a special use permit issued by the USFS or the Fire District. Burning shall be completely extinguished by before midnight or the designated time.

E. Outdoor location:
Permitted burning shall occur only in an approved site. This site must be inspected and approved by a member of the Fire District before any burning. The approved site must be ringed with non-combustible material, with a maximum diagonal dimension of 3 feet for any one dimension, and is not to be within 20 feet of combustible materials. Ground cover within this clearance area is to be maintained and free of combustible material. Such clearance requirements also apply to the storage of flammable or combustible liquids or gases. Flame heights are not to exceed 3 feet above fuel bed. Any flying material emitted from the fuel bed shall be monitored to reduce the hazard of fire extension from the burn site. Fire rings shall require a cover of screened mesh no greater than ½ inch in size and large enough to cover the entire ring or structure used for burning.

F. Fire suppression equipment:
The permit holder is required to have a garden hose supplied with water, shovel, and/or other firefighting equipment, as required by the permit (site-specific needs), and all equipment shall be maintained in a serviceable state and be immediately available at the site for use.

G. Attendance:
A competent adult shall continuously attend and know how to use the fire suppression equipment. The permit holder is required to be in attendance of any such fires.
By signing and acceptance of this permit, the permit holder grants the right of inspection by representatives of the Fire District at any time during the burning operation to determine if a fire hazard exists that is significant enough to require discontinuance of the burning operation.

H. Discontinuance:
The Fire District reserves the right to require that the fire be immediately extinguished if a representative determines that the fire constitutes a hazardous condition. The Fire District may revoke the permit at any time for non-compliance to any of the above items or due to fire severity conditions.