Fire Restrictions

Town of Cave Creek

Fire Danger Stages I & II

Stage I Fire Restriction: 
Implemented any time the Fire Danger Level of Town is set to “Very High” :  

No smoking outside near combustible ground cover, outside of vehicles, outside of residential yards or beyond designated smoking areas.

No spark generating activities outside of an enclosed building without first obtaining a permit from the Town of Cave Creek. Spark generating activities include (but are not limited to):  Welding, Grinding, Braising, Cutting Steel

 The use of Fireworks and other Pyrotechnic displays are prohibited.
 The use of ignition driven model rockets is prohibited.
 The use of flame in any outside area such as flame based weed removal Cooking, Warming or Campfires in all areas must have the responsible party within sight of the flame and must always be attended to until the flame has been extinguished and the coals are cold to the touch.

All current building permits must call for and pass an inspection of the area prior to undertaking any spark generating activities outside of an enclosed structure. Spark generating activities include (but are not limited to): welding, grinding, braising, cutting steel.

 Red Flag Warning: Should the National Weather Service declare a “Red Flag Warning” for the area, all spark generating activities shall be prohibited for the duration of the warning. 

Stage II Fire Restriction: 
 Stage II Fire Restrictions encompass all restrictions listed in Stage I Restrictions plus the following additions and shall be implemented any time the Fire Danger Level of the Town is set to "Extreme":
 

The use of flame in any outside area such as flame based weed removal is prohibited. 

Use of tiki torches or other devices that emit a flame is prohibited.
Wood burning outdoors for cooking, warming, or campfires or the use of charcoal is prohibited. 

*If a conflict is found to exist between the requirements of Stage I or Stage II Restriction then the Stage II Restriction shall prevail.

To View the Actual Ordinance Directly

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Definitions

 Combustible Ground Cover means ground cover that is able to catch fire easily.

Vehicle means a fully enclosed form of transportation with the windows in the upright or closed position. 

Residential Yards means an enclosed section of private residential property that has had all combustible ground cover removed from the area. 

Designated Smoking Area means a defined area in public spaces or commercial businesses that have been designated as an area where smoking is allowed. 

Red Flag Warning means a forecast warning issued by the National Weather Service in the United States to inform the public, firefighters, and land management agencies that conditions are ideal for wildland fire and other combustion, and rapid spread. 

Very High Fire Danger Level in order to communicate the risk of fire to community the Town uses the National Fire Danger Warning System. Very High means Fires start easily from all causes and, immediately after ignition, spread rapidly and increase quickly in intensity. Spot fires are a constant danger. Fires burning in light fuels may quickly develop high intensity characteristics such as long- distance spotting and fire whirlwinds when they burn into heavier fuels.

Extreme Fire Danger Level in order to communicate the risk of fire to community the Town uses the National Fire Danger Warning System. Extreme means Fires start quickly, spread furiously, and burn intensely. All fires are potentially serious. Development into high intensity burning will usually be faster and occur from smaller fires than in the very high danger class. Direct attack is rarely possible and may be dangerous except immediately after ignition. Fires that develop headway in heavy slash or dense stands of trees may be unmanageable while extreme burning conditions lasts. Under these conditions the only effective and safe control action is on the flanks until the weather changes or the fuel supply lessens.