The number one cause of Wildfires in New Hampshire are illegal or improperly extinguished fires.
Laws and Regulations (Click Here for Laws)
Per RSA 227-L:17, the state of New Hampshire require anyone who wishes to burn clean, ordinary combustibles such as leaves, brush or untreated lumber, or have a camp or cooking fire to have written permission from the landowner. A written fire permit from the local Forest Fire Warden or local fire department in the town or city where the fire will be kindled is required.
Commonly asked Questions
Where do I obtain a Fire Permit?
Fire Permits are obtained from the Merrimack Fire Department located at 432 Daniel Webster Highway. This is the Fire Station next to the Souhegan River. Please review the "FIRE DANGER" sign in front of the Fire Station to see if permits are being issued. 
How much does a Fire Permit cost?
There is no cost to obtain a written fire permit.
When is a Fire Permit Required?
A Fire Permit is required anytime there is less than a 100 foot radius of complete snow cover around the fire, or when determined by the Forest Fire Warden that the snow has melted eoungh throughout the community to start issuing fire permits.
What time can a fire be kindled?
Fires may only be kindled after 5:00 p.m. and must be extinguished before 9:00 a.m.
What can be burned?
What cannot be burned?
Combustible domestic waste as defined by RSA-125N, including. but not limited to:
Fire Permits are broken down into four Categories
Category I Fire
A small controlled fire, such as a cooking fire.
Must be contained within a ring of fire resistive material or in a portable fire place and cannot be greater than 2 feet in diameter.
Must be 25 feet from a structure
With approval from the Forest Fire Warden ONLY, a Category I Fire may be kindled at any time of the day weather raining or not.
Category I permits may be issued as a seasonal permit, but may be suspended if the Forest Fire Warden or Deputy Forest Fire Warden determines fire conditions to be too dangerous.
In Merrimack Category I Fire Permits are reserved for summer camps and camp grounds
Specifications for camp or cooking fires Category I
Category II Fire
A controlled fire, such as a camp or cooking fire.
Must be contained within a ring of fire resistive material or in a protable fire place.
Cannot be greater than 4 feet in diameter.
Must be at least 50 feet from a structure.
A Category II Fire may only be kindled between the hours of 5:00 pm and 9:00 am.
Category II permits may be issued as a seasonal permit, but may be suspended if the Forest Fire Warden or Deputy Forest Fire Warden determines fire conditions to be too dangerous.
Specifications for camp or cooking fires Category II
Category III Permits
A controlled fire greater than 4 feet in diameter or
A controlled fire not contained within a ring of fire resistive material.
Must be 50 feet from a structure
A Category III Fire may only be kindled between the hours of 5:00 pm and 9:00 am.
Category III permits can be issued for 
more than one day, but are not typically issued for more than 7 days depending on weather conditions. In Merrimack Category III fire permits may be issued for more than 7 days by the Forest Fire Warden of Deputy Forest Fire Warden ONLY.
Category IV Fire
A controlled fire larger that a Category III Fire
May be kindled during the day between the hours of 9:00 am and 5:00 pm even if it is not raining.
The permittee must comply with additional special provisions to qualify for a Category IV Permit.
A Category IV Permit is issued jointly between the State of New Hampshire Forest Ranger and the local Forest Fire Warden.
This type of permit is very rarely issued in the Town of Merrimack, it is often referred to as a "Commercial Burning Permit".
Merrimack Fire Department Headquarters
e-mail links