FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Smith Town — Chief Turner and the Smith Town Fire Department announce that the State Open Burning Season will begin on Tuesday, Jan. 15 and run through May 1.
Permits are required in order to conduct open burning. A permit may be obtained at demo.firepermits.com free of charge.
Residents who have obtained permits need to check demo.firepermits.com on the day they plan to burn to confirm conditions are safe for burning. In addition, residents must log into their demo.firepermits.com client account on the day they wish to burn and activate their permit.
Burning is prohibited on Class four and five days.
Fires must be kept 75 feet away from buildings and not cause a smoke nuisance to neighbors. In addition, the fire must be attended and a hose made available.
“I want to thank our residents in advance for the cooperation with open burning regulations,” Chief Turner said. “Following these rules will help prevent avoidable accidental fires.”
Outdoor burning is only permitted for brush, cane, driftwood, forestry debris, agricultural debris and — under certain conditions — fungus-infected elm wood. Burning grass, hay, leaves, stumps, and commercial or industrial land clearing for non-agricultural purposes is prohibited.
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.
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