Burn Permit Information

(Why) Do I need to call for a burn permit?

The reason we have both an open burning permit process and an open burning ordinance is to control what is being burned and when it is being burned.  The State of Vermont publishes daily fire weather forecasts.  Based on this information, local conditions, and the Fire Warden's decision, a burn ban can be put in place on any "open burning" at any time.  For this reason, seasonal fire permits or "standing permits" are not typically issued in our town.  Open burning is burning outside without the use of a long chimney to arrest sparks.  During burn bans, it is our objective NOT to have any open pit fires (including chimineas, "Solo Outdoor Fire Pits", conventional fire pits, burn barrels, etc). Open burning of trash using a "burn barrel", "home-made incinerator", or simply in a pile on the ground, is illegal.   It is reasonable to excuse cooking appliances such as gas, wood pellet, and charcoal grills from burn bans but also to acknowledge that even these items pose a fire risk in dry, high wind conditions.  

Through the permitting process, it is our goal to raise fire danger awareness to the community so that we can respond rapidly to extinguish a reported fire as soon as possible.  It is also our goal not to dispatch a multi-agency fire response to a known controlled burn that has been documented and filed appropriately.  

We are noticing rapidly fluctuating dry weather and high fire danger conditions this spring/summer even with the recent green up.  We ask for your continued diligence in calling the town hall (weekdays) or the fire department officers (weekends) for a burn permit year-round (including when there is snow on the ground).  Please do call 911 if you are reporting an emergency, but please do not use 911 to request a permit.  Please plan ahead for open burning and be patient if you do not immediately get a hold of someone.  We will do our best to get back to you.  Please note that leaving a message does not equate to being issued a burn permit and permitted burns must be attended at all times.

For Burning permits Mon-Fri please call Damon Hall:  802-436-2444

For Burning permits on weekends or if you have questions, call one of these officers: