STURBRIDGE FIRE DEPARTMENT Sturbridge, Massachusetts 346 Main Street • Sturbridge, Massachusetts 01566 Tel. (508) 347-2525 • Fax (508) 347-7904 David E. Zinther, Fire Chief FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 2014 Open Burning Season Regulations (Update) Sturbridge, MA – February 2, 2014 – The Commonwealth of Massachusetts Open Burning Season, beginning January 15th and ending on May 1st of each year, is here again. The Town of Sturbridge Fire Department has extended the privilege of Open Burning to residents once again for 2014, keeping in mind the following information. HOW TO OBTAIN A SEASONAL OPEN BURNING PERMIT: In order to obtain a 2014 Seasonal Open Burning Permit, Town of Sturbridge residents must contact the Sturbridge Fire Department Open Burning Hotline at (508) 347-2525 Option 1 to speak with an on-duty member of the Fire Department between the hours of 8am and 12pm on any day of the week during the Open Burning Season. The resident will be issued a seasonal permit identification number that will be used for the remainder of the Open Burning Season. DAILY AUTHORIZATION TO BURN: On each day that the permitted-resident wishes to burn, they will contact the Sturbridge Fire Department Open Burning Hotline at (508) 347-2525 Option 1 between the hours of 8am and 12pm to speak with an on-duty member of the Fire Department. The resident will provide their permit identification number and will either be permitted or denied permission to burn on that day given pertinent weather conditions. The Fire Chief and/or his designee have the right to deny or rescind any permit at any given time due to unsafe conditions. The Sturbridge Fire Department’s public information team will make every effort to post notification on its Facebook (www.facebook.com/sturbridgefd) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/sturbridgefd) systems on days when open burning will NOT be authorized due to air quality and/or hazardous weather conditions. OPEN BURNING REGULATIONS: When a seasonal permit has been issued and daily authorization to burn has been obtained, residents must follow the following state regulations per the DEP (310 CMR DEP 7.07) and the Sturbridge Fire Department: Open burning must be a minimum of 75 feet from all buildings. Burning must take place on the land closest to the source of the material to be burned. Burning must be conducted between the hours of 10am and 4pm. You MAY burn brush, cane, driftwood, and forestry debris. You may NOT burn materials from commercial/industrial land-clearing operations. You may NOT burn grass, hay, leaves and stumps, and tires. You may NOT burn construction material and debris. Always have an adult present during open burning – NEVER LEAVE YOUR FIRE UNATTENDED! Use paper and kindling to start the fire and add progressively larger pieces of wood. Pieces of leftover Christmas trees make for excellent fire starters! NEVER use gasoline, kerosene, or any other flammable liquid to start fires as risk of personal injury is HIGH! Burn one small pile at a time, and slowly add to it. Select a location away from any overhead utility lines. UNATTENDED FIRES: Fires must be attended to by an adult at all times. Any unattended fire observed by or reported to the Fire Department is subject to immediate extinguishment, and potential revocation of your Seasonal Open Burning Permit. FIRE CONTROL TOOLS: Always have a water supply on-hand and test it out before igniting the fire. Other fire control tools you should consider are rakes and shovels. WATCH THE WIND AND WEATHER: Weather conditions here in New England change rapidly. If the wind picks up, put your fire out. Never wait for the Fire Department to tell you to put your fire out. Use common sense. BURN SOONER THAN LATER: April is the cruelest month for brush fires. The Sturbridge Fire Department has frequently suspended Open Burning Season during March and April due to dry, windy conditions that are favorable to brush fires. Why not get your burning done during the much safer, wet, snowy conditions? FIRE OUT OF CONTROL: If your fire has gone out of control, Don’t Delay!!! Call 9-1-1! FINAL LEGAL NOTICE: People conducting illegal burning, or who allow a fire to get out of control, may he held liable for costs of extinguishing the fire, fined, and even imprisoned (MGL C48 §13). ### Contact: Lt. Nicholas J. DaDalt [email protected]