Open Burning Season Begins in Georgetown on Jan. 15

For Immediate Release
Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2015

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: john@jgpr.net

Open Burning Season Begins in Georgetown on Jan. 15

GEORGETOWN — Fire Chief Albert B. Beardsley has announced the State Open Burning Season will begin on Thursday January 15, and will run through April 30.  This effects residents of Town of Georgetown who wish to burn.

Permits will be available beginning January 15 online at www.georgetownfd.com (24/7) or at the fire station, 47 Central St., between 9 a.m and noon.

The cost of an open burning permit online, with a Visa or Mastercard is $12.50, which includes a $2.50 service charge. Permits can also be purchased at the fire station for $10, payable by check or money order. Sorry, no cash.

The Georgetown Fire Department also reminds residents of the following:

• —Daily activation is necessary by going online to www.georgetownfd.com.  Have your 2015 permit number handy!
• Depending on conditions, permits can be activated between 9 a.m. and noon and all fires must be out by 4 p.m.
• The Fire Chief reserves the right to allow open burning daily and is contingent on weather conditions and advisories from the Department of Conservation and Recreation and the Department of Environmental Protection.
• Open Burning Is for Residential Only. No Commercial Burning.  Each permit is only good for one residential property.
• You cannot burn leaves, stumps, construction debris or trash.
• A current valid permit is necessary to burn.  Even if you’ve purchased a permit in past years, you must purchase a new permit for 2015. 

The fire department strongly recommends early season burning of brush because as the season extends into Spring, environmental conditions often become a challenge to allow burning.  It’s wise to set-up your burn piles away from structures where embers could set these buildings on fire.  Always have a garden hose, charged, by your pile along with a rake, and make sure the spot where you burn is cleared around the burn area as well as the overhead.  Never leave a burn pile unattended.  A sudden breeze or shift in winds can suddenly erupt your burn pile into an inferno.

Nevert allow children, or others, to “play” with the burn pile.  Many tragedies have needlessly occurred.  If your burn pile does get out of hand, call ‘911’ immediately.

The Georgetown Fire Department wants everyone to have a safe Open Burning Season in 2015.  If you have questions regarding Opening Burning visit our website or call the fire station at 978-352-5757.

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