Open Burn Season Begins November 1

Open burn season will run November 1 to April 1, and residents are reminded that they must have an open burn permit from the fire marshal’s office, located within Newtown Municipal Center at 3 Primrose Street, before burning brush on their property.

Permits must be applied for prior to the day of the planned burning. For those planning to burn on a weekend, a permit must be applied and paid for (there is a $5 fee per permit) by noon on Friday. A fire marshal will inspect the brush to be burned.

There is absolutely no burning of cut trees, stumps, roots, leaves or grass; construction materials (including plywood, 2 by 4s, shingles, etc); or garbage.

On the day of a scheduled burn, permit holders must first call fire dispatch at 203-270-4200, providing their name and address of the burn. At this time the fire dispatcher will inform the caller if conditions are acceptable to burn.

The burning permit will only be issued for one day. At the fire marshal’s discretion he may issue the permit for more than one day for special circumstances, with the understanding that the permit holder will call fire dispatch each day before burning begins.

Burning is not to be done in the woods. Burn piles must be 100 feet from the wood line, dried grass, and property line.

On a scheduled burn day there must be a wind between 5 and 15 miles per hour.

All burning permits will be canceled when the Forest Fire Danger is High or Extreme and on high wind days.

The fire must be completely extinguished by 5 pm. The fire must be attended at all times.

For additional information call the fire marshal’s office, 203-270-4370.