Open Burning Season: Is Your Community Eligible? Rules, Safety

MASSACHUSETTS - It's once again open burning season in Massachusetts. Following an unprecedented fall fire season in the Commonwealth, and as wildfires blaze across California, state officials are imploring residents to protect themselves and their communities by following local and state restrictions.

"Even where burning is authorized, a permit from your local fire department is always required in advance and it's your responsibility to be able to extinguish the fire on a moment's notice," said State Fire Marshal Jon Davine.

Open burning is banned year-round in the following communities: Arlington, Belmont, Boston, Brookline, Cambridge, Chelsea, Chicopee, Everett, Fall River, Holyoke, Lawrence, Lowell, Malden, Medford, New Bedford, Newton, Somerville, Springfield, Waltham, Watertown, West Springfield and Worcester.

In the rest of the communities across Massachusetts, the burning season started on Jan. 15 and runs through May 1 with certain limitations. Local fire departments may also deny permits.
Agricultural waste that can be burned includes brush, cane, driftwood, residential forestry debris, fruit tree and brush prunings, raspberry stalks, infected bee hives and more.

The following rules are in place for open burning:

• A permit issued in advance by the local fire department is required.
• Burning can only be conducted between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
• It must be at least 75 feet from all dwellings and without causing a nuisance.
• It must be as close as possible to the source of material being burned.
• It must not cause or contribute to a condition of air pollution.

There are some safety recommendations, including:

• An adult should tend to the fire at all times and keep tools to extinguish it close by.
• Burn small amounts at a time.
• Never use gasoline, kerosene or other accelerants to start the fire.
• Don't wait for the fire department to tell you that it has become unsafe to burn: put the fire out if winds pick up or the weather changes. Most fires get out of control during sudden wind changes.
• If the fire gets out of control, call 911 right away.

To read the full press release and find contact information for public information officers, go to this link here.

"Open burning is limited to protect public health and public safety," said MassDEP Commissioner Bonnie Heiple. "If open burning is allowed in your community, please follow the local and state guidance to keep yourself, your neighbors and our environment safe."

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