Info on Open Burning
NOTICE OPEN BURNING STARTS JANUARY 15th
BURNING (WITH A PERMIT) OF THE FOLLOWING MATERIAL IS ALLOWED
v brush, cane, driftwood, and forestry debris from other than commercial or industrial land clearing operations between January 15 to May 1, under the following conditions:
§ burning must be at least 75 feet from all dwellings,
§ burning must be carried out between 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM,
§ burning must take place on the land closest to the source of the material to be burned,
§ burning must be conducted during periods of good atmospheric ventilation and without causing a nuisance as determined by DEP air quality control division
GUIDELINES FOR CONDUCTING OPEN BURNING:
v Starting the fire:
§ Before placing material to be burned in an area, remove all grass.
§ Before burning brush, dry by cutting in advance or covering.
§ Start the fire using either small amounts of kerosene, #2 fuels (NO GASOLINE), or a pressurized burner which uses diesel fuel.
v While burning:
§ An adult must attend the fire until completely extinguished.
§ Have available a water supply, such as a pressurized water pump can or hose, and shovels or rakes for controlling the fire.
v Extinguishing the fire:
§ Burn the fire down to coals and spread the coals with snow, water, sand or soil.
BURNING OF THE FOLLOWING MATERIAL IS PROHIBITED STATEWIDE:
v Trees, cane and driftwood from commercial and/or institutional land clearing operations-grass, hay leaves, and stumps.
v Tires
v Any type of Refuse: includes household garbage, paper waste, building materials
ALSO PROHIBITED IS stacking, placing, or storing combustible material such that the Department may presume that it will be burned.
Procedures for Obtaining a Permit
· There is no charge for a permit but no one can burn without a valid permit on the burn site. A permit is required for each day you burn.
· There are three ways to obtain a permit:
§ Follow this link to Contact Us. Complete all the starred areas and in the message block state your name, the dates you want to burn, where you want to burn and a contact number where you can always be reached. The permit will be emailed to you.
§ Call 357-8585, ext. 0 and speak with Kathy. A permit will be either emailed or mailed to you.
§ Come to the Town Hall between 9am and 2pm, Monday through Friday to pick up a permit.
· You must make arrangements to burn on weekends and on holidays during the work week. You cannot secure permission to burn on Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays on the day itself. You must make arrangements ahead of time.
· The permits are conditional. If atmospheric conditions are not favorable for burning the day for which you have been granted permission to burn, you will be notified by phone. This is the reason that we ask for a cell phone or some other number where we can reasonably expect to contact you on short notice.
· You will not be issued a permit for same day burning after 10am since you must burn between 10am and 4pm.
· Burning without a permit is subject to fines.
· You must burn without creating a nuisance.
· An adult, someone 18 or older must be at the site of the fire at all times that the fire is burning.
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