Open Burning, Pine Straw and Smoking Materials

It is illegal to burn trash or debris in the city of Raleigh. The only types of fires that are permitted are fires used for heating or cooking. These allowable fires cannot exceed 3 feet in height or 2 feet in diameter. The North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources prohibits the burning of leaves or yard debris where curbside collection is available. The City of Raleigh offers curbside collection of yard waste.

While the Raleigh Fire Department discourages open burning, if you do decide to have a small warming fire please be sure to take the following steps:

• Make sure the fire pit or fire is 25 feet from any structure;
• Make sure the fire is constantly attended;
• Have a method for extinguishment such as a fire extinguisher or water hose available for immediate use; and,
• Be aware that fire code officials can order certain fires to be extinguished, such as those that create objectionable odors or smoke or when local conditions make these fires hazardous.

In 2010, a Raleigh City ordinance took effect that bans the use of pine straw as ground cover within 10 feet of multi-family dwellings. Single-family and two-family homes are exempt from the ordinance, however, the City strongly encourages these homeowners to comply with the pine straw restrictions.

Visit the pine straw ordinance webpage for more information.

Smoking materials are the leading cause of fire deaths in the United States. The majority of smoking material related fires that end in injury or death started in the living room or bedroom. As such, people are encouraged to smoke outdoors. However, smoking outdoors also carries the risk of unintentional fires. Here are tips for handling cigarettes and other smoking materials:

• Use deep, sturdy ashtrays and don’t discard butts and ashes in flower pots or a bucket;
• Make sure the smoking material is extinguished all the way before returning inside. It may be necessary to douse the ashtray with water;
• Before discarding the butts or ashes into the trash can, again check to make sure they are out;
• Check under furniture cushions and in other places people smoke for cigarette butts that may have fallen out of sight;
• Keep matches and lighters out of the reach and sight of children;
• Never smoke in a home where oxygen is being used; and,
• If you smoke, choose fire-safe cigarettes as they are less likely to cause fires. A fire-safe cigarette has a reduced propensity to burn when left unattended. The most common fire-safe technology used by cigarette manufacturers is to wrap cigarettes with two or three thin bands of less-porous paper that act as “speed bumps” to slow down a burning cigarette. If a fire-safe cigarette is left unattended, the burning tobacco will reach one of these speed bumps and self-extinguish.