Fire FAQ

Effective on June 1, 2025, the burning of yard waste is prohibited within city limits.

This initiative is driven by our commitment to:

• Improving Air Quality: Leaf burning releases harmful pollutants into the air, impacting respiratory health and overall well-being. Leaf smoke can irritate the lungs and trigger asthma attacks, especially for children and seniors.
• Protecting the Environment: Smoke from leaf burning contributes to air pollution and can negatively impact local ecosystems.
• Ensuring Compliance with State Law: Michigan State Law prohibits the open burning of yard waste or leaves in any municipality having a population of 7,500 or more (MCL Section 324.11539).

As a reminder, our contracted waste hauling service, Priority Waste, provides curbside leaf collection weekly from April 1 through the second full week of December. Residents may use paper yard waste bags or containers up to 95 gallons in capacity with a proper sticker facing the street (100-pound weight limit). Other alternatives to open burning include composting leaves and grass clippings, or using leaves and grass clippings for mulch.

While the city is taking steps to eliminate leaf burning for improved air quality, it's important to note that recreational outdoor wood burning will still be permitted under specific guidelines. These regulations ensure safety by requiring wood burning to take place in approved units like fire pits or chimineas with dry and seasoned firewood.

Check our current class offerings at (WebTrac).

We continue to receive questions regarding the use and storage of barbeque grills at apartments and condos.

The section of the fire code, adopted under Local Ordinance #865, dealing specifically with this subject is 308.1.4 Open-flame cooking devices which prohibit the use of charcoal burners and other open-flame cooking devices on combustible balconies or within 15 feet of combustible construction, except at one and two family dwellings (individual home or duplex), or where buildings and decks are protected by an automatic sprinkler system, or for LP-gas cooking devices having an LP-gas container with a water capacity of not greater and 2.5 pounds (nominal 1 pound LP-gas capacity).  

Additionally, Section 307.4.3 prohibits the use of portable fireplaces within 15 feet of a structure or combustible material, except at one or two-family dwellings.

Please see the memo from our Fire Chief [PDF]

We cannot accept sharps at any city facility, however, the City's waste collection service may offer sharps disposal.

In the lobby of the Auburn Hills Public Safety Building, at 1899 N. Squirrel Rd, there is a drop box for unused prescription medication. Medication must be placed in an unmarked ziploc-type bag. We do not accept sharps in this box.

If your tests are conducted during standard business hours Monday - Friday 8am - 5pm, please call the Fire Department main line at 248-370-9461.

If you are conducting tests outside of standard business hours, please call 248-370-9444.

Four complete plans are required for review. Please see more information about plan 

reviews on our Forms and Permits page under "Fire Suppression and Detection."

The Auburn Hills Fire Department has a third-party company process the EMS billing. The company is called Mobile Health Resources (MHR). They can be reached at 1-800-903-0107. Their mailing address is PO Box 13247 Lansing, 48901-3247. If you have any questions about your bill, refunds, or billing statements, please reach out to Mobile Health Resources.

A file of life is a small pouch with a magnet that can be placed on the door of your refrigerator.  The file contains information on any medications that you take so that emergency personnel can easily find that information in case of a medical emergency.

Files of Life are available, free of charge, through Senior Services at the Auburn Hills Community Center.  Contact Karen Adcock at (248)364-6794, or Pauline Beckett at (248)364-6792.

The NFPA recommends a smoke detector in each bedroom, in the area outside of the bedrooms, and at least one detector on each floor of the home.  Detectors should not be placed within three feet of a bathroom so that steam from a shower will not set them off.  Detectors should not be placed within 10 feet of a cooking appliance.

Smoke detectors should be tested monthly.  This is also an ideal time to practice your home escape plan

Every six months, or if a detector fails to operate during the monthly test.  Some newer smoke detectors have batteries permanently installed, and these will last for a period of several years, after which the detector must be replaced.

Smoke detectors should be replaced every 10 years, or per manufacturer recommendation.

A fire extinguisher rated for Class A, B, and C fires is recommended.  Class A fires are normal combustibles like paper or wood, Class B is for liquids, and Class C is for use on energized electrical equipment.  The minimum rating for a home fire extinguisher should be 2A, 10B, C.

Fire extinguishers are only for use on small fires, such as a wastebasket fire.  To use an extinguisher, remember P.A.S.S.: 

• Pull the pin
• Aim at the base of the fire
• Squeeze the handle to discharge the extinguisher
• Sweep the extinguishing agent back and forth across the base of the fire until it is out.

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recommends at least one fire extinguisher on each floor of a home, plus one in the garage.  Extinguishers should have a minimum rating of 2A,10B, C.  Extinguishers should be hung in a place where they are easy to access and immediately available for use.

Rechargeable extinguishers should be inspected annually by a company licensed to service fire extinguishers. Disposable extinguishers should have an expiration date on the nameplate/sticker on the extinguisher. Extinguishers should be checked monthly according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Contact your local waste disposal company.  If they are unable to take old extinguishers, you can discharge the extinguisher so that no pressure remains in the cylinder, then take it to a scrap/recycling facility.

Extension cords and power strips should be listed by a recognized testing laboratory (UL, UL Canada, FM).  Use extension cords that are the correct size or rating for the equipment in use; the diameter of the extension cord should be the same or greater than the cord of the equipment in use.  Only use cords rated for outdoor use when using a cord outside.  Power strips should have a built-in circuit breaker/overcurrent protection.

Use extension cords and power strips only when necessary and only on a temporary basis.  Do not use extension cords and power strips in place of permanent wiring.  If you need another outlet, contact a licensed electrician to have one installed.

Do not remove the prongs of an electrical plug or use an adapter or extension cord to defeat a standard grounding device.  If your outlet is not designed for a three-prong plug, contact a licensed electrician to replace your outlet with one designed for three-prong plugs.

Do not run cords above ceiling tiles or through walls.  Keep electrical cords away from areas where they may be pinched and areas where they may pose a tripping or fire hazard such as doorways, walkways, under carpet, etc.

Always inspect the cord prior to use to ensure the insulation isn't cut or damaged. Discard damaged cords, cords that become hot, or cords with exposed wiring. If plug prongs are missing, loose, or bent, replace the entire plug or cord.  To prevent damage, never unplug an extension cord by pulling on the cord; pull on the plug.

Space heaters should be listed by a recognized testing laboratory (UL, UL Canada, FM).  Space heaters should automatically shut off if tipped over or moved.

Place the space heater on a stable and level surface, where it won’t be bumped, kicked, or knocked over.  Space heaters should be kept a minimum of three feet from any combustible materials.  To avoid electrical shock, do not use an electric space heater around water.

If your space heater requires fuel make sure you are using the correct fuel.  Fuel-fired space heaters must be used only in well-ventilated areas and should never be used in the house due to the hazardous fumes they produce.

In addition to any precautions in the manufacturer’s instruction manual for your space heater:  Check the cord and plug of the space heater before use.  Do not run cords under carpets, rugs, or furniture, and do not use an extension cord or power strip with a space heater.  If the power cord for the space heater gets hot, discontinue use and replace the space heater.  Turn the space heater off if you leave the room or when you go to sleep.  Do not allow children to operate the space heater and keep them at least three feet away from a space heater to avoid burns.