Open Burning Season Starts Jan. 15 in North Andover

NORTH ANDOVER, MA - Open burning season will start on Jan. 15 in North Andover and Massachusetts’ communities where open burning is allowed.

Open burning in Massachusetts is regulated by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection and enforced by local fire department. Open burning season runs from Jan 15 to May 1. A valid permit obtained from the local fire department is required. The fire chief reserves the right to deny open burning on any day due to weather or environmental conditions.

Local fire officials are encouraging residents to use of the town’s online system to register for permits, and to activate permits on specific days.

Residents who are unable to obtain a permit online, may call 978-683-3168. A dispatcher will then enter your information and issue you a permit number. You MUST retain this number. Once you have been issued the permit number, Dispatchers will not be able to look up your number. If you want to burn on a particular day and do not have your permit number, you will not be allowed to burn.

There is no cost for the burn permit in North Andover, according to town officials.

On its site, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection lists 22 communities that do not allow open burning at all. They are: Arlington, Belmont, Boston, Brookline, Cambridge, Chelsea, Chicopee, Everett, Fall River, Holyoke, Lawrence, Lowell, Medford, New Bedford, Newton, Somerville, Springfield, Waltham, Watertown, West Springfield and Worcester.

“Weather conditions can change rapidly, especially in the spring, and fire wardens will determine on a daily basis when it is safe to conduct open burning,” according to DEP officials. “If winds kick up or other atmospheric conditions change suddenly, making it unsafe to burn, permits can be rescinded (cancelled).”

Fires Must be Attended Until Completely Extinguished, according to state and local fire officials.

Do not leave your fire burning unattended. This is a reason to revoke your burning permit.

Find out more provisions and laws surrounding open burning, including materials that can (or cannot) be burned.

Information: Local and state fire officials