For Immediate Release

Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2016

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

Gloucester Open Burning Season to Begin in January

GLOUCESTER — Fire Chief Eric Smith announces that the State Open Burning Season will begin on Sunday, Jan. 15 and run through May 1.

Permits can be obtained at the fire station, 8 School St., beginning on Jan. 14 between 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and will be effective beginning Jan. 15. Burning permits are initially issued for one day and remain valid, unless suspended or revoked, for the entire burning season.

The permit fee is $25, payable by check only. Checks can be made out to the City of Gloucester. There is no additional charge for permit extensions or to replace a lost original permit.

Open burning can only be conducted with a permit issued by the fire department and is only permitted for brush, cane, driftwood, forestry debris, agricultural debris, and, under limited conditions, fungus-infected elm wood. Burning grass, hay, leaves, stumps, and commercial or industrial land clearing for non-agricultural purposes is prohibited.

Permission to burn under the permit must be obtained by calling the fire station after 9:15 a.m. at 978-283-9760 ext. 1 and listening to the recorded “Open Burning Status” for that day. Do not call 911 to request permission to burn.

The requirement to call in each day is based on changing atmospheric conditions such as wind or dryness. The on-duty Deputy Fire Chief will make a determination before 9 a.m. each day whether burning will be allowed.

Chief Smith would like to remind residents that the fire department will investigate all reports of smoke and uncontrolled fires regardless of whether a permit was issued at the address or area of the report.

Violations of the permit requirements, open burning law, and/or open burning regulations will be grounds for permit revocation. According to Massachusetts law, anyone found burning without a permit may be subject to criminal charges, the punishment for which is a fine of up to $500 plus the cost of suppression or by imprisonment for up to one month, or both.

Anyone with questions regarding opening burning should call the Gloucester Fire Department at 978-281-9760 ext. 2 or email Sandra Rallo at srallo@gloucester-ma.gov.

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