If open burning is allowed in your community, contact your local fire department to obtain an open burning permit in advance.

State fire wardens determine each day whether conditions are safe for open burning. Weather and air quality can change rapidly, especially in the spring, and fire departments can rescind permits when that happens.

Open burning must be done:

• Between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. from January 15 to May 1
• At least 75 feet from all buildings
• As close as possible to the source of material being burned
• When air quality is acceptable for burning. Call the MassDEP Air Quality Hotline at (800) 882-1497 or visit MassAir Online to find out if it is.
• Communities where open burning is prohibited at all times: Arlington, Belmont, Boston, Brookline, Cambridge, Chelsea, Chicopee, Everett, Fall River, Holyoke, Lawrence, Lowell, Malden, Medford, New Bedford, Newton, Somerville, Springfield, Waltham, Watertown, West Springfield, Worcester

You 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

You 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

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.

While still allowed in most Massachusetts towns and cities, open burning has disadvantages.

The combustion process releases carbon dioxide, other gases, and solid substances directly into the air. This can make it difficult for people with respiratory problems to breathe. It can also cause smoke and odor nuisance conditions for neighbors.

Disposing of natural materials is never as good for the environment as recycling them. Ask your public works or solid waste department if your community chips or composts natural debris into landscaping material.

With the fire department’s approval and supervision, a community may schedule:

• One ceremonial bonfire each year to observe a municipal, state or national event
• A bonfire between July 2 and July 6 in observance of Independence Day (available only in person at the Duxbury Fire Department headquarters located at 668 Tremont St.)

Outdoor cooking is allowed year-round in all communities and is not subject to open burning limits.

With specific approval from MassDEP, local fire departments may also stage outdoor fires for purposes of fire prevention or protection research and training

Guidance on Recreational Fires, Fire Pits, Chimineas, etc. 

With the property owner’s permission, there are no special permits required in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for the use of outdoor fire pits, cooking, or recreational fires; there are however, several requirements based on Department of Environmental Protection regulations (D.E.P.), the Massachusetts State Fire Laws & Codes (MGL Chapter 148 & 527 CMR), the 2015 International Fire Code (IFC) and the State Fire Marshal (SFM).

1. The fire must be small and manageable, no greater than 3 feet in diameter. By definition, a fire larger than 3 feet in diameter is no longer considered a cooking or recreational fire. (IFC)
2. All fires must be constantly attended by a competent person until extinguished. (IFC)
3. It is required to keep a fire extinguisher, garden hose, or water bucket available for quick extinguishment if necessary. (IFC)
4. Fires shall not be conducted within 75 feet of a structure or combustible materials. (DEP and SFM)
5. The fire pit should be placed on a flat, noncombustible surface. An area of 75 feet should be cleared around the fire pit in all directions, and clear of all dry vegetation and combustibles. Make sure the fire pit is placed away from other materials that could burn or catch fire, both overhead and to the sides such as building components, tree limbs, sheds, awnings, etc. (DEP and SFM)
6. Open fire pits and recreational fires ARE NOT INCINERATORS. The burning of trash, rubbish, painted or stained wood and construction debris is prohibited by D.E.P.
7. Do not cause a nuisance or health hazard to your neighbors. Never use wet or damp wood. This creates needless, irritating smoke. Always use dry seasoned wood, charcoal, or specialist fuel (e.g. wood burning briquettes). If the Duxbury Fire Department receives complaints from neighbors that the smoke or smell is bothersome, we will investigate, and if deemed necessary, you may be instructed to extinguish the fire. (MGL Chapter 148) & (527 CMR)
8. Never use an accelerant to light any fire. There have been many cases of people getting burned while trying to light a fire with a “small amount” of gasoline.
9. Environmental condition may also limit or exclude the use of a Recreational Fire such as bad air quality or class 4 or 5 fire danger days (sometime referred to as a “Red Flag” day). (DEP)