Thursday October, 1 2020

Nature: Open Burn Ban Ends

 

Today (October 1^st) ends the yearly open burning ban. Please be sure to follow the state laws, if you plan on performing any controlled burns and contact the appropriate county dispatch center to notify them of such activity.

Burning of leaves, trash, grass clippings, and/ or building materials is illegal, and may be subject to fines from DNREC.

For the full set of laws and rules for open burning, please view the following:

https://dnrec.alpha.delaware.gov/.../open.../residential/

Citizens’ Guide to Residential Open Burning

Residential open burning, ceremonial open burning and several types of recreational open burning are permitted in Delaware except when prohibited by the State Fire Marshal or National Weather Service.

Contact DNREC:  Gerald Mood - 302-739-9402

Allowed Burning

Residential open burning is for residents domiciled in a private dwelling where no commercial or industrial activity is conducted. It includes burning small amounts (limited to 27 cubic feet at one time) of cut or fallen branches, limbs, or shrubbery from their property, so long as it is conducted as far as practicable from any adjacent property. Such burning is banned during the Ozone Season (May 1 – Sept 30). The rest of the year (Oct 1 – April 30), such burning is allowed only between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.

Ceremonial fires (limited to 27 cubic feet at one time) conducted by established groups such as schools, churches, or other recognized organizations are allowed throughout the year and during any time of day.

Recreational open burning activities including cooking fires (limited to 10 cubic feet at one time), campfires (limited to 27 cubic feet at one time), patio fire pits, or chimenea are allowed throughout the year and during any time of day.

Notifying the County Fire Board

Before conducting a residential open burn, a resident must notify their local county fire board. Cooking fires, campfires, patio fire pits, chimenea, and ceremonial fires are exempt from this requirement.

Prohibited Residential Open Burning

The following materials are never allowed to be burned In Delaware:

• Leaves

• Grass Clippings

• Garbage/Trash

• No one may burn more than 27 cubic feet of branches, limbs, or shrubbery at one time.

• No one may burn cut or fallen branches, limbs, or shrubbery not generated by the homeowner’s property.

Residential open burning may not be used to burn land-clearing material.