In 2005, The Fire department established a Burn Permit Officer to monitor any type of burning, year around, within the City. This is to ensure that all burning is done on authorized burn days and meets both state and federal guidelines.
All burning within the city limits requires a written burn permit- so if you are planning to burn, call the Fire Department, 8:00 to noon, Monday thru Friday at 271-2423. Afternoon call 271-3603 and City staff will ask for your name and phone number and then someone from the Fire Department will contact you within 24 hours. In most cases, you will be contacted the same day. If you want to burn on the weekends call us during the week for a permit.
The Burn Permit Officer will set up an appointment to look at what you plan to burn and then will issue a permit. There is no charge for this service. Permitted burning includes burn barrels, (in good condition), and debris burns, (piles of scrap wood or woody material).
Burn Barrels
Burn barrels require an annual permit. You can burn woody material in your barrel year around, weather conditions permitting except during fire season. After your barrel is inspected and a written permit has been issued, call the Burn Permit Officer on the day you want to burn. Local weather conditions will be checked and permission may be granted.
- Only metal barrels may be used and they must be in good condition.
- Barrels must have a screen made of no less than 14 gauge wire and holes no more than ¼ inches in diameter.
- Ground must be cleared of all combustible material within 10 feet on all sides of the barrel.
- No burning of plastics, rubber, chemicals, or anything that produces black or toxic smoke is allowed. Burning of any household garbage is prohibited.
Open Burning
Open burning is allowed during most of the year, except during fire season. Requests for open burning permits require an on-site inspection. Permits are issued on a day by day basis and weather conditions and fire danger is closely monitored before a permit is granted.
A garden hose attached to a water supply or other fire extinguishing equipment must be readily available at all burning sites.
No burning permits are allowed for commercial or industrial waste.
Other guidelines such as hand feeding the pile, etc., may be required.
- What you are allowed to burn:
- Yard trimmings
- Leaves
- Brush
- Lumber/wood
- What you are not allowed to burn:
- Garbage
- Automobile parts
- Petro-chemical products
- Plastic, rubber products
- Asphalt
- Wire insulation
- Animal remains
- Any other item that emits dense smoke or noxious odors.
- Set backs from burn piles:
- Locate piles 50 feet from structures
- Ground must be cleared for 10 feet in all directions around the pile.
- No burning allowed during windy conditions
- Burn piles must be supervised until the fire is out.
These rules and regulations not only help to reduce smoke intrusion within the City limits, but also reduce the chances that an unwarranted response of emergency vehicles will be dispatched to the site of your burn pile.