EASTON — Chief Kevin Partridge announces that Easton residents will be able to begin applying for 2021 open burning season permits starting tomorrow.
Beginning Jan. 1, residents will be able to apply for open burning permits online by visiting this website. Though residents will be able to apply for permits, open burning season does not start until Jan. 15, 2021 and residents must request to conduct residential burning on each day they wish to burn after they obtain their permit.
To submit an application, your name, street address and phone number are required.
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the kiosk at Easton Fire Station 3 will be closed to the public in order to limit the amount of foot traffic in the station and prevent the spread of COVID-19. All residents must apply for their permits online.
The Commonwealth’s annual burning period spans from Jan. 15 to May 1. Residents will only be allowed to conduct open burning between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Residents are required to check in each day they wish to burn and specify that they are burning for the day through theonline portal.
Open burning can only be conducted with a permit issued by the Easton Fire Department and is only permitted for brush, cane, driftwood, and forestry debris from other than commercial or industrial land clearing operations. Burning grass, hay, leaves, stumps, and commercial or industrial land clearing for non-agricultural purposes is prohibited.
The requirement to check in each day is based on changing atmospheric and weather conditions such as wind or air dryness. The department’s on-duty shift commanders will make a determination before 9 a.m. each day whether burning will be allowed in town.
“Any reports of smoke or uncontrolled fires, regardless of whether a permit was issued at the address or area of the report, will be investigated by the fire department,” Chief Partridge said. “If there are any violations of the open air burning rules or if any residents are creating nuisances, we may revoke a permit at any time so we strongly urge all to follow the open burning rules carefully.”
To view the rules and regulations surrounding open burning season and for open burning safety tips, visit the Easton Fire Department’s website.
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.
For more information about burn permits, visit the Open Burn Permits & Regulations page on the Easton Fire Department website by clicking here.
Anyone with questions regarding opening burning should call the Easton Fire Department at 508-230-0750.
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