Prepare for Fire Season and Create Defensible Space for Your Home at the 19th Annual Sedona Firewise Cleanup
Sedona AZ (April 13, 2021) – The Sedona Fire District (SFD) and the U.S. Forest Service are joining together to offer Sedona area residents an opportunity to dispose of their yard waste and combustible vegetation. SFD Fire Station #4, located at 391 Forest Road in Uptown Sedona, will be accepting yard waste Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday May 21st, 22nd, 23rd & 24th, 2021 from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. The event is open to all Sedona Fire District residents.
“Thanks to a generous grant awarded by Yavapai County Board of Supervisors, we were able to expand this year’s event,” said Fire Marshal Jon Davis. The grant has allowed for this event being extended to four days and provided for additional dumpsters. “I would encourage Sedona Fire District residents to reach out to the Board of Supervisors and thank them for the grant award and to let them know that their support is making a difference in our community,” he said. By extending the event, SFD is hoping that more residents in the Village of Oak Creek and Chapel areas will have more opportunities during periods of lighter traffic to take advantage of this opportunity.
Fire Marshal Davis reminds everyone that fire restrictions are just around the corner. Now is the time to clear your property of weeds, leaves, and dead brush in preparation for fire season. Protecting your home from a wildfire starts with you. Creating a defensible space within 30 feet of your home can greatly reduce the risk of damage from a wildfire. Don’t have 30 feet? Then start with the first 10 feet around your home. Tall, dry grasses provide a path for fire that can lead directly to your house. By removing tall dry grasses, excess vegetation, dead leaves, and branches from the perimeter of your house and removing leaves and pine needles from your roof and gutters, you will be doing your part to decrease the wildfire potential of your property. Pruning tree limbs up 6’-10’ from the ground also reduces ladder fuels which can help slow the spread of wildfire.
Yard debris, including brush, tree and shrub trimmings (limbs, trunks), as well as bagged leaves and pine needles (no cactus trimmings, please) may be dropped off during this event. All noxious weeds, leaves, grasses, and pine needles must be bagged. Appliances, hazardous materials, garbage, mattresses, and other household waste will not be accepted.
Due to ongoing pandemic concerns, citizens dropping off vegetation for disposal are asked to remain in their vehicles. Sedona Fire District staff will unload the yard debris from private vehicles and place it in the provided dumpsters.
Visit www.sedonafire.org or www.firewise.org to learn how to make your property safe from wildfire or call the Sedona Fire District at 928-204-8926 for more information or to schedule a free wildfire home assessment.