The Yuma Fire Department currently has a program available for at risk youth who have displayed fire setting behavior, or whose parents or guardians would like to take a proactive approach to fire safety. The intake process allows for referrals from juvenile court, school resource officers, the Yuma Police Department, as well as voluntary participants. Participants learn about the consequences of fire play, life-long effects of their decisions, basics of fire behavior, and prevention methods. Families are taught together, and parents are given useful information regarding the importance of locking up fire starting materials from access of curious fire setters, as well as planning and participating in evacuation drills in their homes.

The station visits and tours are currently on hold until COVID-19 restrictions are lifted. We apologize for this but appreciate your patience and understanding during these times!

The Insurance Services Office (ISO) collects information on municipal fire-protection efforts in communities throughout the United States. In each of those communities, ISO analyzes the relevant data using the Fire Suppression Rating Schedule (FSRS). From this schedule a Public Protection Classification (PPC) from 1 to 10 is assigned. Class 1 represents exemplary public protection, and Class 10 indicates that the area's fire-suppression program doesn't meet ISO's minimum criteria.

By classifying communities' ability to suppress fires, ISO helps the communities evaluate their public fire-protection services. The program provides an objective, countrywide standard that helps fire departments in planning and budgeting for facilities, equipment, and training. By securing lower fire insurance premiums for communities with better public protection, the PPC program provides incentives and rewards for communities that choose to improve their firefighting services.

The ISO reviews municipalities on a 7-10 year cycle at which time they evaluate three elements to calculate a City’s PPC. These three elements are Receiving and Handling Fire Alarms, Fire Department, and Water Supply. Each element is weighted based on the impact on fire suppression operations. Each element is thoroughly evaluated and these evaluations make up the total assigned PPC for the community.

The City of Yuma was audited in 2017 and was awarded a PPC Class 2. This PPC classification is available to all facilities within the incorporated City of Yuma limits.

If you have any questions about the ISO or the PPC process, or if you don’t know if your property is within the incorporated City of Yuma limits, please feel free to contact us at 928-373-4850.

Cooking and/or small recreational fires do NOT require a permit from the City of Yuma Fire Department. The definition of a recreational fire is the noncommercial burning of materials other than rubbish for pleasure, religious, ceremonial, cooking, or similar purposes in which the fuel burned is not contained in an incinerator, a barbecue grill, or a barbecue pit, and the total fuel area is not exceeding 3 feet in diameter, and 2 feet in height. A way to extinguish the fire shall be located within immediate reach, and the fire shall be supervised until such fire has been extinguished. These fires should also be at least 10 feet from property lines or anything combustible.

If the recreational or cooking fire is larger than 3 feet in diameter and 2 feet in height, it is considered to be a bonfire. Bonfires DO require a permit from the City of Yuma Fire Department. There are restrictions on the size of the bonfire, and there may also be restrictions imposed on the type of materials allowed for burning. An application must be completed and a site plan provided. Fire extinguishers and/or a water source must be available to prevent the fire from getting out of hand. The fire must be constantly attended until it is completely extinguished. The permit may be revoked if emissions from the fire create excessive air pollution, a public nuisance, or a safety hazard.

A permit is also required for any open burning exceeding the definition of a cooking and/or small recreational fire.

**During air pollution emergency episodes, certain fires may be prohibited.**

The City of Yuma Fire Department must be notified prior to setting a bonfire and again after the fire is out.

To obtain a burn permit with the City of Yuma, please call 928-373-4850, or visit us in Fire Administration at City Hall, 1 City Plaza.

As a customer of the City of Yuma Fire Department, if you have a complaint or concern of a non-emergency nature, please feel free to stop by any Fire Station or the fire administration office at City Hall. A fire department employee will assist you in completing a "Complaint and Referral Form." Please be prepared to disclose the exact nature and location of your concern.

All inquiries will be reviewed and forwarded to the proper division for investigation and any needed corrective action(s). The completed report will be returned to the appropriate division head for review. If desired, you will receive a copy of the completed form.

You may also contact the Community Risk Reduction Division at 928-373-4850.

Code Enforcement

If you or your organization would like to have the City of Yuma Fire Department attend your event, please contact our office at 928-373-4850.

Firefighting in today's society is both challenging and exciting and offers a highly rewarding community service career. City of Yuma firefighters also have great benefits, which includes a retirement system that offers retirement with 25 years of service.

If you are interested in becoming a City of Yuma firefighter, you must meet the following minimum qualifications:

• A high school diploma or a GED
• For this next recruitment, the following will be preferred: Firefighter I and II, Arizona Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) or National Registry, Hazmat First Responder Operations and CPR certification
• A valid Driver's License and a good driving record

Applicants who meet the above criteria must also pass written and oral skills testing, a physical ability test, and a medical examination.

You may apply online at the City of Yuma's website or if you do not have access to the internet, computers are available to the public in the City of Yuma Human Resources Department lobby.

For more information on employment with the City of Yuma visit the employment section of our website or contact the City of Yuma Human Resources Department.

Visit our recruitment page for more information.

Fireworks can be enjoyable and spectacular, especially around holidays; however, they can also cause serious injury and start dangerous fires. For these reasons, both the State of Arizona and the City of Yuma regulate their sale, possession and use.

For many years, ALL fireworks were illegal, except for supervised (by permit) public displays. In recent years, some types of "consumer fireworks" have been allowed. State law restricts the sale, possession, and use by the general public to only those listed as "Permissible Consumer Fireworks" (ARS 36-1606). In general, if it leaves the ground (sky rockets, bottle rockets, etc.), shoots flaming material into the air (roman candles), or explodes (any type of firecracker), it is illegal.

Use of permissible consumer fireworks is further restricted (within the City of Yuma) to private property. City ordinance (139-002.A) says that "The use, discharge, or ignition of fireworks is prohibited on all public property including, but not limited to, public buildings, parking lots, public parks, sidewalks, streets, public schools, and public rights-of-way at all times, except as otherwise provided for herein or by permit for supervised public displays only."

City ordinance (139-006) also is clear that the user is responsible for the costs of any emergency response resulting from the use of fireworks. Of course, as a Fire Department, we see far too much damage and injury, even from fireworks considered by some to be "safe," like sparklers (that burn at temperatures over 1000 degrees). We consider fireworks to be playing with fire and do not condone their use.

State of Arizona Consumer Fireworks Regulations Arizona Revised Statutes section 36-1606, et al.:

The USE of permissible consumer fireworks as defined under state law is allowed:

June 24 - July 6 and December 24 - January 3

The SALE of permissible consumer fireworks as defined under state law is allowed:

May 20 - July 6 and December 10 - January 3

Permissible consumer fireworks may not be sold to persons under sixteen (16) years of age.

The large aerial or ground displays, which you might see at public events, are by permit only. "Every supervised public display of fireworks shall have a permit and shall be inspected by the Fire Chief or designee prior to such event. Every supervised public display of fireworks shall be of such character and so located, discharged or ignited in a manner that does not endanger persons, animals or property. A permit shall not be issued, or may be revoked, during time periods of High Fire Danger warnings. The Fire Chief has authority to impose conditions on any permits granted" (City Ordinance 139-002.C).

 Permit requirements include:
•Completion of a permit application
•Specifications on the launching area
•Stipulations on the presence of a licensed pyrotechnic operator at the firing

For more information concerning firework regulations in the City of Yuma, contact the City of Yuma Fire Department at (928) 373-4850.

The City of Yuma Fire Department prepares a report for all events it responds to including fires, hazardous materials, emergency medical services, technical rescues and public assistance. Specifics to the event are needed to retrieve the report, in particular the date, time, and nature of the emergency.

For more information or to request a report, contact the City of Yuma Fire Department at 928-373-4850. To request a copy of a report, please fill out the Request for Public Records form. 

The threat of arson is real in our community. Each year, City of Yuma Fire Department officials investigate cases involving arson, explosive devices, false alarms, and threats to bomb. Every year, thousands of dollars in damages are caused by arson fires. The potential for loss of life is great due to intentionally set fires.

To curtail the number of arson cases, the City ofYuma Fire Department aggressively investigates these cases and prosecutes perpetrators to the fullest extent of the law.

If you have information concerning arson or any other type of fire-related crime, contact the City of Yuma Fire Department.

You can also contact the City of Yuma Police Department anonymously at 928-78-CRIME.