Open Burning Requirements

Burning Permit Requirements: 

Open burning, with a permit issued by the Ashland Fire Department,

 is allowed from January 15th to May 1st

 under regulations of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. 

Permits can be obtained daily during normal working hours at; 

Station 2, 70 Cedar Street or call 508-881-2323

Permits are granted at the sole discretion of the Fire Chief 

 and/or the Duty Officer depending on current weather conditions

 and/or other factors.

What is Allowed?

  Burning of the following with a permit is allowed  between January 15 and May 1 under the following conditions...

* Brush, cane, driftwood and forestry debris from other than commercial or industrial land clearing

* Burning must be at least 75 feet from all dwellings

* Burning must be carried out between 10AM and 4PM

* Burning must take place on land closest to the source of material to be burned.

* Burning must be supervised by an adult

* A water source (hose) must be close by at all times 

* Materials normally associated with the pursuit of agriculture, such as fruit tree pruning, dead

   raspberry stalks, blueberry patches for pruning purposes, infected beehives for disease control.

* Trees and brush resulting from agricultural land clearing.

* Fungus invested Elmwood if no other acceptable means of disposal is available. (Disease free 

   brush is not an acceptable starting aid.)

What is not allowed?

* Burning of the following materials is PROHIBITED statewide:

* Brush, trees, cane, and driftwood from commercial and/or institutional land clearing operations.

* Grass, hay, leaves, and stumps.

* Tires

* Burning at landfills or refuse disposal facilities other than approved sites.

* Stacking, placing, or storing combustible material such that the Department may presume that it

   will be burned.                                                        Picture of a Brush Fire Gone Bad