Backyard recreational fires in Anchorage follow the same rules as fire pits: under 3 feet diameter, 25 feet from structures, clean wood only, adult attended. No yard waste burning. Subject to summer burn bans.
AMC Title 23 and the adopted IFC treat backyard warming and cooking fires as recreational fires exempt from burn permits as long as they stay within size and fuel limits. Allowed: seasoned firewood, charcoal briquettes, manufactured fire logs. Prohibited: leaves, yard debris, construction scrap, treated lumber, pallets with nails, and anything that produces heavy smoke (which also violates AMC 15.70 air-quality rules in the Anchorage Bowl). Fires must be in a non-combustible container or ring, located on bare soil or gravel, with a garden hose or fire extinguisher immediately available. AFD may order any fire extinguished if a neighbor complains of smoke intrusion or during air-quality advisories. Winter bonfires on frozen ground still require the same precautions — embers can smolder under snow and re-ignite.
Nuisance-smoke or oversize fires: warning on first call, 100-300 dollar fine on repeat. Escaped fire: suppression-cost recovery plus potential criminal charge.
See how Anchorage's backyard fires rules stack up against other locations.
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