The Office of the Fire Marshal is preparing for the open burn season to begin. The approaching season will run November 1, 2022 through March 31, 2023.

Permits are required for open burning. Permits are $5 and are available at the fire marshal’s office, within Newtown Municipal Center, 3 Primrose Street, weekdays between 8 am and 4:30 pm.

Permits are issued for the burning of brush only, three inches in diameter or smaller.

Tree stumps, roots, grass, leaves, and construction materials cannot be burned. The fire marshal will visit the site to check the placement of the pile on the property and the content of the pile.

After receiving a permit, those planning burns must then contact the town’s emergency dispatch center at 203-270-4200 on the day of the scheduled burn to learn if weather conditions allow such activity on that day. Permit holders will be asked for their name, the address and permit number of their burn.

All permits are canceled for the day when the forest fire danger is High, Very High or Extreme; on high wind days, or if the air quality in the state is poor. On a scheduled open burn day, there must be wind between 5 and 15 mph to help the smoke to dissipate.

Permits are issued for one day of burning. At the open burn official’s discretion permits may be issued for more than one day for a special circumstance, with the understanding that the permit holder follows all rules and regulations put out by the State DEEP and the fire marshal’s office for every day of burning. Fires must be attended at all times and must be extinguished by 5 pm.

For more information, contact the fire marshal’s office at 203-270-4370.