BURN PERMITS
Open Burn Official: Emily Egan
Phone: 860-435-5170
Email: [email protected]
Emergency Burn Ban in Effect 10/28/2024
All Open Burning is Strictly Prohibited in Salisbury
Due to extremely high fire danger in our area, ALL open burning is strictly prohibited in Salisbury at this time (even if you previously applied for or have had an Open Burning Permit through the Selectmen’s Office for your activities). This includes the use of fire pits. Please exercise extreme caution, especially when disposing of smoking materials outdoors.
Open Burning Permits will not be issued until the fire danger risk is reduced to LOW risk conditions. Please note that today’s forest fire danger report remains at a Very High level: https://portal.ct.gov/deep/forestry/forest-fire/forest-fire-danger-report.
An emergency burn ban is now in effect for all Connecticut State Parks, Forests, and Wildlife Management areas, prohibiting the use of all outdoor grills, fire pits and campfires, kindling and use of flame outdoors. CT DEEP and local agencies are working to contain several active fires across the state. Please avoid all affected State Parks and Forests.
Let’s all work together during this critical time. Thank you for your cooperation.
Emily Egan
Open Burn Official
860-435-5170
To request a burning permit, call 860-435-5170 or email [email protected]
On the day of burning, please call 860-435-1252, and leave a message with your name, address, phone number.
It is imperative that all fires start after 10am and are out by 5pm.
You may burn with a valid permit if:
- the Forest Fire Danger level is LOW & Air Quality is “Good”,
- the winds are less than 10mph,
- and it is not raining or snowing.
YOU MUST HAVE WATER ON SITE AS A SAFETY PRECAUTION AND TO EXTINGUISH THE PILE AFTER BURNING
If the Forest Fire Danger Level is Moderate, High, Very High or Extreme or the Air Quality Level is “Unhealthy” – There is NO BURNING in Salisbury.
CLICK HERE FOR DAILY FOREST FIRE DANGER LEVEL
Click Here for the Air Quality Index
Weather.com for wind speed
Guidelines for Open Burning on Residential Property
Restrictions, Conditions and Permitting
Prior to burning, the resident/caretaker , or individual seeking to burn on the residential property where he or she resides/caretaker, must have a valid, signed permit from his or her local Open Burning Official. The permit does not relieve the permittee of any legal liability, which may be incurred as a result of the fire.
Open burning is limited to the burning of brush only. Brush is defined as shrubs, vegetation or prunings, the diameter of which is not greater than three inches at the widest point. Leaves and grass are not considered brush. Open burning is not allowed for the purpose of clearing land, or for the disposal of construction debris, household trash, or leaves.
Open Burning Restrictions
Open burning is NOT allowed:
- to clear land prior to construction activities
- as a means to dispose of construction debris, household trash, or leaves.
- if the Air Quality Index (AQI) is forecasted to be 75 or higher anywhere in the state
- if the Forest Fire Danger Index is rated Moderate, High, Very High, or Extreme
- if national or state ambient air quality standards may be exceeded
- if a hazardous health condition might be created
- if there is an advisory from DEEP of any air pollution episode
Additional Applicable Conditions
Before the Burn
All reasonable safety precautions are to be taken including but not limited to:
- clearing of grass and trees from the burning area
- wetting down of the surrounding area
- placement of fire extinguishers and hose lines
After the Burn
- all reasonable measures to assure complete combustion and reduce excessive smoke are to be taken
- at no time during the burn should the fire be left unattended
- the permit must be available on site during the burn
- burning may not create a nuisance to nearby properties
- burning may only be conducted between the hours of 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. on a sunny or partly sunny day with the wind speed less than 10 miles per hour
Completion of the Burn Period
- the burn pile must be completely extinguished by 5 p.m.
- all embers and coals must be extinguished and wetted, so as to prevent smoldering and fugitive ash emissions
Failure to adhere to the conditions of the permit may result in penalties and/or enforcement actions. There may be additional requirements or special conditions applied to your open burning permit by your local Open Burning Official.
Do you have a complaint regarding open burning on residential property?
Smoke, nuisance odors, or other complaints regarding open burning on a residential piece of property are best directed to your Open Burning Official (see contact info above).
Issues or concerns relating to the health effects created or experienced during open burning should be directed to your local Open Burning Official.
In the case of an emergency please call 9-1-1.