The Redding Fire Department is opening backyard burning season a few days early. Residents may begin burning Wednesday and any day until the end of April with a permit in hand, as long as it’s a burn day. County air quality officials would prefer to see greenwaste turned into mulch at the City of Redding transfer station. Anything that can fit should be stuffed into greenwaste containers, and if requested the city will provide an extra can. Those who burn piles in Redding and in the Buckeye District need to print a permit from cityofredding.org or reddingfire.org. There’s no charge for the permit, but it must be filled out and in hand while burning. It allows for a burn pile of up to 4 feet. Those burning larger piles of up to 10 feet need to get a $16 permit by calling the fire department headquarters at 225-4141. Those piles need inspections before they’re lit. Burn piles must contain only clean dry vegetation such as branches, leaves, pine needles, and yard clippings. A 10-foot diameter should be scraped down to bare soil. A shovel and water supply should always be near at hand and burning or smoldering piles should never be left unattended. Fires can be ignited between 10AM and 3PM and must be out by 5. Burn days are determined daily by county air quality officials, and left on a recording after 9:15AM at 224-8777.