Brush Burning
BRUSH BURNING
Each year between January 15 and April 30, some Massachusetts communities allow their residents to conduct open burning. It is important to remember that when open burning, you are subject to certain requirements and responsibilities issued and enforced by the State Fire Marshal's office, Department of Environmental Protection, and your local Fire Department. These regulations are there for the safety of you and your neighbors as well as the protection of the environment.
City of Greenfield Brush Burning Registration Procedures:
Burning Brush Regulations
Each year between January 15 and April 30, some Massachusetts communities allow their residents to conduct open burning. It is important to remember that when open burning, you are subject to certain requirements and responsibilities issued and enforced by the State Fire Marshal's office, Department of Environmental Protection, and your local Fire Department. These regulations are there for the safety of you and your neighbors as well as the protection of the environment.
City of Greenfield Brush Burning Registration Procedures:
Registration
- The completed brush burning registration form, along with $20 cash or check made out to the City of Greenfield, should be placed in an envelope and either mailed to the Fire Station, 53 Hope Street, Greenfield, MA 01301 or returned to the City Hall drop box. You will be contacted with the web address and your registration number for daily activation (see below).
Daily Activation of Your Permit
- Using the permit information given during registration, log in to fcburnpermits.com and print your permit. If you can’t access the internet, the permit can be activated by calling the dispatch center and using the permit information; the dispatch non-emergency number is 413-773-5411.
Burning Brush Regulations
- No person shall set, maintain, or increase a fire in open air at any time except by permission.
- You must be 18 years or older to apply for a permit and/or set, maintain, or increase fire once permission has been granted by the Fire Department.
- Permit holders must be the owner of the property or have the permission of the property owner to obtain a permit.
- All open burning must be a minimum of 75 feet from buildings or structures.
- Burning will be allowed to start at 10 a.m. and must be extinguished by 4 p.m.
- Any open fire must be attended at all times by the permit holder.
- Permit holder is required to have an appropriate means to extinguish an open-air fire completely at the end of the day or if requested by the Fire Department.
- Permits are for BRUSH ONLY! All other materials are illegal. No leaves, grass, hay, stumps, building debris, or any other materials are allowed to be burned.
- Greenfield Fire Department can refuse or cancel a permit at any time. (Example: violation of permit regulations, or change in weather conditions.)
- If the Fire Department responds to your permitted open burn and any of the rules regulating open burning are being violated, you will be responsible for the cost of the response and the extinguishment of the illegal open burn, up to $500.