The Sedona Fire District 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 No. 4, located at 391 Forest Road in Uptown , will be accepting yard waste Saturday and Sunday, May 18 and 19, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The event is open to all Sedona Fire District residents.

SFD Fire Marshal Jon 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,” according to SFD. “Creating a defensible space within 30 feet of your home can greatly reduce the risk 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 feet to 10 feet from the ground also reduces ladder fuels which can help slow the spread of wildfire.”

Yard debris, including brush, tree and shrub trimmings, such as limbs, trunks, as well as bagged leaves and pine needles may be dropped off during this event. No cactus trimmings, please. All noxious weeds, leaves, grasses, and pine needles must be bagged. Appliances, hazardous materials, garbage, mattresses, and other household waste will not be accepted.

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.