HomeMy Public PortalAboutOpen Burning RegulationsOPEN BRUSH BURNING RULES AND REGULATIONS
Open brush burning season starts January 15th and ends May 1st. Indicated
below are the Rules & Regulations residents must follow in order to burn. Any
questions concerning these regulations can be directed to the main fire
department phone line at 508-896-7018.
In accordance with the Rules & Regulations issued by the Southeastern
Massachusetts Pollution Control District regarding open burning, in order to burn
in the Town of Brewster the following procedure must be followed:
• Permits must be obtained annually at Brewster Fire Headquarters (1657
Main Street) or via mail using the application form available on line at
brewsterfire.com.
• Permits may be obtained in person Monday through Friday between the
hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.
• Persons wishing to burn must receive permission from the fire department
by calling our dedicated open burning hotline at 508-896-5174 between
the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. each day of intended burning.
• A message indicating whether or nor burning will be allowed on that day
will follow. If burning is allowed, the caller shall then leave their name,
burn permit number, address, and phone number on the answering
machine in order to allow the fire department the ability to cross reference
all permits and requests to burn.
• Adverse meteorological conditions, including rain, fog, snow, and wind will
influence the decision to allow open burning on any individual day.
• Burn permits are $10.00 and are valid for the entire burning season.
**Weather conditions can change rapidly and the fire department will determine
on a daily basis whether or not it is safe to conduct open burning. If wind speed
increases or other atmospheric conditions change suddenly resulting in unsafe
burn conditions permission to burn can be rescinded.
The following rules apply to open burning:
• Burning must not cause a nuisance.
• Burning must be done with smoke minimizing starters.
• Burning must take place on the land closest to the source of the material
to be burned and in accordance with Department of Environmental
Protection regulations (310 CMR DEP 7.07).
• Burning must take place at the location specified on the issued permit
(permits are valid for one location only).
• Burning material and location shall be no less than 75 feet from any
structure.
• A responsible person must be in attendance at all times while the fire is
burning.
• A hose and/or water supply as well as shovels and/or rakes for controlling
the fire must be present.
• Burning shall not commence after 12:00 p.m.
• All burning material must be fully extinguished by 4:00 p.m.
• The Brewster Fire & Rescue Department reserves the right to inspect all
burning sites at any time.
Burning of the following materials with a permit is allowed:
• Brush, cane, driftwood, and forestry debris from other than commercial
and/or industrial land clearing operations.
• Materials normally associated with the pursuit of agriculture such as fruit
tree pruning’s, dead raspberry stalks, blueberry patches for pruning
purposes, and infected bee hives for disease control.
• Trees and brush resulting from agricultural land clearing
• Fungus infected elm wood, if no other acceptable means of disposal is
available.
State open burning regulations prohibit the following:
• Burning of brush, trees, cane, and driftwood from commercial and/or
industrial land clearing operations.
• Burning of grass, hay, leaves, stumps, tires, or furniture.
• Burning of trees.
• Burning during adverse meteorological conditions.
• Burning at landfills or refuse disposal facilities other than approved
incinerators.
• Burning construction material and debris.
• Stacking, placing, or storing flammable or combustible material in a
manner that the fire department may presume the material may be
burned.
**Infractions of the above regulations by any violator(s) will result in revocation
of the burn permit and cancellation of the open burning season for the individual
violator. In certain cases fines may be levied by the fire department.
Who may burn:
• Those who have permission from the fire department.
• Those affiliated with an official fire fighting agency who is actively
engaged in training activities or combating or backfiring an existing fire.
• Those who are utilizing an open burn as a primary method of cooking.
How to conduct open burning:
• An adult must always be present during any open burning operation. All
children and pets should be kept at a safe distance.
• Keep a water supply such as a garden hose, pump can, or pressurized
water can available.
• Keep tools such as a rake or shovel available.
• Use paper and kindling wood to start the fire and progressively add larger
pieces of wood.
TOWN OF BREWSTER FIRE DEPARTMENT
APPLICATION FOR FIRES IN THE OPEN AIR
Name: _________________________________________________________________
Address: _______________________________________________________________
Phone #:_______________________________________________________________
Email address: __________________________________________________________
Please fill out this form and return to the Brewster Fire & Rescue Department at 1657
Main Street, Brewster MA 02631. A check for the annual burn permit fee in the amount
of $10.00 made out to the Town of Brewster shall be included with the application.
The above noted person has requested permission to set a fire for the purpose of
burning brush, cane, driftwood, and forestry debris, excluding hay, leaves, stumps, or
construction materials from January 15 to May 1.
Individuals wishing to burn must call the dedicated burn phone line at 508-896-5174
each day by 12:00 p.m. A pre-recorded message will announce whether or not
burning will be allowed on that day. If allowed, the person shall leave their name;
address, phone number, and burn permit number on the answering machine.
All burning shall be conducted as follows:
at a location greater than 75 feet from any dwelling
between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. on clear, non-windy days
on land proximate to the place of generation
while in constant attendance and until completely extinguished
all fires shall be started between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. and
shall be fully extinguished by 4:00 p.m.
Signature of Applicant __________________________________________
Office use only: Issued By: ______________________ Date: ___________________
Permit number: __________________