Permits can be obtained online or in person 

The Ashland Fire Department has announced permits for open burning can now be obtained online at www.ashlandfire.com or in person at Ashland Fire Station 2 (70 Cedar Street). 

The permit is good for the entire season however it needs to be activated each day. Burning cannot start before 10 a.m. but must start by 1 p.m. Fires must be out by 4 p.m.

No burning is allowed on the day of the Boston Marathon (Monday, April 18, 2022). 

According to Open Burning Safety guidelines at Mass.gov, open burning must be done: 

- After obtaining a permit from the local fire department

- Between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. from Jan. 15 to May 1 (no extensions) 

- At least 75 feet from all dwellings 

- As close as possible to the source of material being burned 

- When air quality is acceptable for burning: Call the MassDEP Air Quality Hotline at (800) 882-1497 or visit MassAir Online at https://eeaonline.eea.state.ma.us/ to find out if it is safe to burn

Items that CANNOT be burned include: 

- Leaves, grass, hay, and stumps

- Material over 4 inches in diameter

- Brush, trees, cane, and driftwood from commercial and/or institutional land clearing operations

- Tires and trash

Items that can be burned include: 

- Brush, cane, driftwood and forestry debris not from commercial or industrial land clearing

- Materials normally associated with the pursuit of agriculture, such as fruit tree pruning, dead raspberry stalks, blueberry patches for pruning purposes, infected beehives for disease control

- Trees and brush resulting from agricultural land clearing

- Fungus infested Elmwood, if no other acceptable means of disposal is available (disease free brush is not an acceptable starting aid)

How to safely ignite and tend the fire: 

- An adult should always be present during open burning, until it is completely extinguished. 

- Children and pets should be kept a safe distance away. 

- Use paper and kindling to start the fire and add progressively larger pieces of wood, parts of a discarded Christmas tree can be used. 

- NEVER use gasoline, kerosene or any other flammable liquid to start a fire because the risk of personal injury is high. 

- Burn one small pile of material at a time and slowly add to it, this helps to keep the fire from getting out of control. 

- Select a burn location away from any utility lines.

- Monitor the wind and be prepared to extinguish quickly. 

Fire control tools to have on hand: 

- Water supply. This can be a pressurized water fire extinguisher, a pump can or a garden hose. TEST the water source before igniting the fire, you do not want to find out that the water is off or that the hose is cracked when you need it.

- Shovels and rakes – you can use dirt to put out a fire.

If the fire gets out of control: 

- Call the fire department IMMEDIATELY

- People who allow a fire to get out of control, or who conduct illegal burning, may be held liable for the costs of extinguishing the fire in addition to fines or imprisonment (M.G.L. c.48, s.13).

For more safety tips, visit https://www.mass.gov/doc/safety-tips-for-open-burning/download