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Open Burning in Massachusetts is regulated by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection and enforced by the local Fire Department. Open burning season runs from Jan 15 – May 1. A valid permit obtained from the Concord fire department is required. The Fire Chief reserves the right to deny open burning on any day due to weather or environmental conditions.
The Concord Fire Department will begin issuing open burning permits beginning on January 15. There is no cost for the burn permit.
We are happy to continue offer an online system this year to register for your permit, and to activate your permit daily.
You can obtain your open burning permit in one of two ways:
1. Click here to obtain your permit by filling out the form online. To obtain your permit online, you will need to agree to the terms and conditions of the open burning regulations. This permit will be valid through May 1st. You will be assigned a permit number which will be required each time you activate your permit during the burning season.
Or
2. We encourage you to obtain your burning permit online. However, if you are unable to obtain a permit online, you must register and obtain the rules from Fire Station Two located at 209 Walden Street or 1201 Main Street (free of charge). Fire personnel will then enter your information and issue you a permit number. You MUST retain this number. You will not be allowed to burn without a permit number.
Each day you wish to burn, you must activate your permit. This can be done in one of two ways:
Or
2. . We encourage you to activate your permit online, however if necessary, you may also contact the Concord Fire Department each day between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. at 978-318-3488 to obtain permission to burn for the day. You MUST have your permit number. If you do not have your permit number, you will not be allowed to burn.
The Concord Fire Department may alter, limit, restrict or cancel permits because of drought, equipment problems or apparatus out of service. Burning will be allowed from 10:00 am until 4:00 PM.
PLEASE NOTE:
- All material must be completely extinguished by 4:00 PM
- Material allowed to be burned are, brush, cane, driftwood, forestry debris (2" dia. Or less), excluding, hay, leaves and stumps.
- You must be at a location greater than 75 feet from any building, on land proximate to the place of generation and be in constant attendance until the fire is completely extinguished.
- No starters such as gasoline or tires may be used.
- A means of extinguishing the fire must be available at all times.
- If the fire gets out of control at anytime call the Concord Fire Department at "911" for assistance.
- Materials to be burned under an Open Burning Permit include, the pruning of blueberry patches, dead raspberry stalks, fruit tree pruning, infected beehives for disease control, and fungus - infected elm wood provided that no suitable alternative is available.
- Agricultural Operations are defined as operations which raise commercial foodstuffs and / or livestock on an area larger than one acre (working farm).
- Massachusetts Law dictates these regulations found in: CMR 527.10.22. If you have questions regarding these regulations do not hesitate to call the Concord Fire Department at 978-318-3488.
REMEMBER:
Open Burning Causes Air Pollution. All open burning must be conducted during periods of good atmospheric ventilation without causing a nuisance (as determined by DEP).
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