Outside Fires, What I need to know?

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE BURNING PERMITS, THE LAW

Burning Permits are issued by the fire department at Station 1 (432 Daniel Webster Highway) and Station 2 (196 Naticook Road). In the event of an emergency call, fire department personnel will have to leave the station and permits will not be issued until they return.

It's The Law - RSA 227-L:17(II)

Anyone who wishes to burn clean, ordinary combustibles such as leaves, brush or untreated lumber, or have a camp or cooking fire must have written permission from the landowner and a signed fire permit issued by the fire department.

Daily Fire Permits will be issued for the specific time and date listed on the permit. The person signing the permit will be liable for any cost incurred or losses from the fire if is becomes uncontrollable. Failure to report a fire or a fire that is out of control is in violation of the Sate of New Hampshire Fire Laws.

Fire Permits are issued depending on the classification of fire danger day and can be revoked or suspended at any time.

Annual Fire Permits

Annual written fire permit can be issues from the Fire Department for use of outside fireplaces, camp or cooking fires. Such camp or cooking fires shall:

1. be in an area cleaned to mineral soil at least 8 feet across;
2. have at least 6 inches of sand or gravel under the fire for any fire built on the ground;
3. have no limbs or other burnable material to a height of 10 feet above the fireplace area; and
4. be constructed so they cannot be moved from their original location
5. cannot be larger than 4 feet in diameter

Gas and Charcoal Grills

Gas grills or charcoal grill fires in a container up and off the ground on your own property do not require a fire permit.

What You Can Burn and When

Only leaves, woody debris or brush less than 5 inches in diameter, or untreated wood and dimension lumber can be burned. For any open burning, a written fire permit is required. Even with the permit, no open burning between the hours of 9:00 am and 5:00 pm unless it is actively raining. If the rain stops for any time, the fire must be extinguished.

When the ground where you are burning is completely covered with snow, no fire permit is required. However, you MUST notify the fire department that you intend to burn prior to starting the fire.

Air quality regulations restrict the type of material burned in the open. Stumps, painted or treated lumber, tires, tubes, plastics, foam rubber and shingles are some of the prohibited materials (see Department of Environmental Services, Air Resources Division Open Burning Rules).

What You Need To Know

When you request a written fire permit, you will need to know the following:

What are you going to burn?

Material must be clean ordinary combustibles. Brush cannot exceed 5 inches in diameter

Where are you going to burn?

How far from the nearest structure, trees and dead vegetation or overhead phone or power lines? Fires must be no closer than 50 feet from a structure, or 25 feet if in an approved incinerator.

When do you want to burn?

Know the Date, time of day, no burning 9:00 am to 5:00 pm unless it is raining (permit needed even when raining).

What do you have for fire protection?

A hose, shovel or rake, and a bucket of water should be available at the fire. You are liable for the costs of extinguishing escaped fires.

How much help will you have during the burn?

Your fire must be attended at all times, or completely extinguished

Do you own the land where you plan to burn?

If not, do you have written permission from the landowner

Will you be able to extinguish your fire if someone complains?

The fire department could require a fire be put out if there are smoke complaints

Are there any tires or tubes in the material to be burned?

Tires, tubes, plastics, shingles, and foam rubber are just some of the prohibited materials

Commercial Permits

The State of NH Forest Ranger for your Fire Chief/Fire Warden are needed to issue a commercial permit to burn when no other means of disposal of material is available, such as chipping, hauling to a landfill or other methods of legal disposal.

The commercial permit is for contractors who use hired help for the burning of material between the hours of 9:00 am and 5:00 pm and only needed when the ground is not covered with snow.

The permittee will be required to have suppression equipment on site while the burning is being done and the fires will have to be completely extinguished or be constantly attended.

Michael Currier, Fire Chief , NH Fire Warden