EASTON — Chief Justin Alexander and the Easton Fire Department would like to remind Easton residents that open burning season began Jan. 15 and runs through May 1. A permit is required to open burn in compliance with Massachusetts law.
Easton residents can apply for open burning permits online by visiting this website. To submit an application, your name, street address and phone number are required.
Residents must visit the same website to request authorization for a residential burn on each day they wish to burn. Residents are asked not to call the department’s administrative offices to request a burn. All requests must be made online.
Open Burning:
Burning must be done:
- Between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., from Jan. 15 to May 1
- At least 75 feet from all buildings
- As close as possible to the source of material being burned
Residents are allowed to burn:
- Brush, cane, driftwood and forestry debris (but not from commercial or industrial land clearing)
- Agricultural materials including fruit tree and bush prunings, raspberry stalks, and infected bee hives for disease control
- Trees and brush from agricultural land clearing
- Fungus-infected elm wood, if no other acceptable means of disposal is available
Residents may not burn:
- Leaves
- Brush, trees, cane or driftwood from commercial or industrial land clearing
- Grass, hay, leaves, stumps or tires
- Construction materials or demolition debris
- Household trash
What times are best for open burning?
- You can help prevent wildland fires by burning early in the season. Wet and snowy winter conditions help hinder the rapid spread of fire on or under the ground.
- Changing weather conditions and increased fire danger in spring can lead to many days when open burning is not allowed.
- April is usually the worst month for brush fires. When snow recedes, but before new growth emerges, last year’s dead grass, leaves and wood are dangerous tinder. Winds also tend to be strong and unpredictable in April.
Additional guidance can be found on the Open Burning Permits page on eastonfire.com.
For more information on open burning in Massachusetts, visit Mass.gov.
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