Scottsdale strengthens wildfire prevention with new hot work notification requirement

As part of ongoing efforts to reduce wildfire risk and protect the McDowell Sonoran Preserve, the Scottsdale Fire Department is requiring contractors to provide 24-hour advance notice before performing hot work in designated Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) and open space areas.

The new Contractor Advisory applies to activities such as welding, cutting, grinding, brazing and torch-applied roofing. The requirement gives fire personnel advance notice of projects that have the potential to ignite dry vegetation, allowing crews to coordinate with contractors and help reduce the risk of accidental fires.

"Hot work operations have repeatedly sparked brush fires near the Preserve," said Fire Chief Tom Shannon. "This notification requirement gives our crews the lead time they need to help contractors work safely while keeping our open space and community protected."

Contractors performing hot work in designated areas must notify the Scottsdale Fire Department at least 24 hours before work begins using both of the following methods:

Call 480-312-4895 (HTWK) or email.

The notification requirement is in addition to obtaining a standard International Fire Code/NFPA 51B Hot Work Permit. Projects scheduled to begin on a Monday or immediately following a city holiday must be reported on the preceding business day.

Additional required job-site safety measures include:

• Clearing flammable vegetation and materials within 15 feet of the work area
• Performing work only on noncombustible surfaces
• Suspending operations during Red Flag Warnings or when sustained winds exceed 15 mph
• Keeping fire suppression equipment readily available
• Maintaining a fire watch during work and for at least 60 minutes after work is completed

Failure to comply with the notification requirement may result in a stop-work order, citation or denial of a certificate of occupancy.

This requirement is one piece of a broader, four-point strategy the Scottsdale Fire Department has developed to reduce fuel loads and wildfire risk across Scottsdale's 57 square miles of wildland preserve. The strategy targets one of the most common causes of preserve-area fires — construction-related ignition sources — through:

• Natural Area Open Space (NAOS) Modifications – adjusting preserve-adjacent landscaping and buffer zones to reduce wildfire vulnerability.
• Fuels Reduction – ongoing removal and management of vegetation and debris that fuel wildfire spread.
• Builder/Contractor Accountability – enforcing best practices and safety standards for construction activity adjacent to wildland areas, where ignition risk is highest.
• Brush Patrols – active field monitoring to identify and address hazardous conditions before they escalate.

The complete Contractor Hot Work Advance Notification Procedure is available through Scottsdale Fire Prevention Services.

To report an active fire or life safety emergency, call 9-1-1.