Canton Fire Chief Reminds Residents of Outdoor Burning Rules

Open Burning Season Begins Jan. 15

CANTON — Chief Charles Doody and the Canton Fire Department announce that the State Open Burning Season will begin on Wednesday, Jan. 15 and end on Thursday, April 30.

Burning permits from previous seasons do not carry over. All residents need to re-apply for permits and can do so by visiting the Canton Fire station, 99 Revere St., to fill out the required paperwork. The permits are free.

Residents who have already obtained permits need to call 781-575-6654 on the day they wish to burn. Callers will hear a message which will inform them if burning is allowed that day and instruct them to leave their name, address and permit number.

If burning is not allowed that day, the phone message will say so.

Residents should not call the Canton Fire Department business line for burning authorization.

“As we approach outdoor burning season, we would like to remind our residents to exercise caution while burning debris,” said Chief Doody. “We ask that all residents keep a fire extinguisher at hand and to use common sense while burning.”

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.

###