Air Quality, Weather Conditions Affect Open Burning in Swampscott

Open burning season starts on Jan. 15 and ends on May 1 in Massachusetts, and Swampscott residents can obtain permits -- a must -- through their local fire department.

But there are some recent changes to burning regulations that you need to know.

According to Deputy Fire Chief James Potts, the Department of Environmental Protection and the state fire marshall’s office issued some additional requirements for open burning in the state.

In particular, beginning in 2014, local fire departments are required to check the DEP’s air quality report before allowing burning each day. Failure to do so could result in hefty fines for the department. Because of this daily requirement, the Swampscott Fire Department is issuing daily burning permits only, not seasonal permits like its done in the past.

Potts said the open burning process looks like this:

• After 8 a.m. on the day they wish to burn, residents must call 781-595-4050 and ask for the duty officer in charge.
• That duty officer will have contacted the DEP and obtained the air quality report. Based on that information, as well as weather conditions assessed on the local level, the duty officer will announce whether burning will be allowed that day in Swampscott.
• Assuming burning will be permitted that day, the resident must then go to the Swampscott Fire Department and purchase a burning permit for $5. That permit will be good for that day only.

When it comes to actually burning the brush, there have been some changes to regulations there as well.

In particular, all fires must now be at least 75 feet away from any structure, Potts said. Structures include everything from homes, garages and sheds to fences, doghouses and chicken coops.

“There aren’t a whole of places you can burn in town,” Potts said, adding that burning in the street or any public area is prohibited. “People really need to be conscious of and considerate of their neighbors. We don’t want to come ruin somebody’s day.”

Burning is allowed between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. only.

Find out more provisions and laws surrounding open burning, including materials that can (or cannot) be burned. For instance, did you know raspberry stalks and infected beehives can be burned, but grass, hay and leaves are strictly prohibited. And as if we had to tell you, you can’t burn a tire, either.

Learn lots more on safety, as well as burning alternatives, on the DEP website.