Open Burning of Brush, Branches and Limbs Not Allowed Between May 1 thru September 30

Open Burning Ban – Also Known As Ozone Season – Runs May 1-Sept. 30

The Fire Prevention Cohort of the Indian River Volunteer Fire Company wishes to publish and remind residents of our fire district of the Open Burning Ban that is in effect as of May 1^st. 

The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) identifies to residents that open burning of materials such as tree limbs, brush and branches is not allowed between May 1 – September 30 – while the state’s annual open burning ban is in effect.

DNREC further reminds the public that it is against the law at all times to burn materials considered toxic or hazardous including not limited to construction materials.

“We want to reinforce the environmental message that while residential open burning is allowed until the end of April, there are constraints on what can be burned, how much can be burned at a time, and at what time of day these materials can be burned,” said DNREC Division of Community Affairs Director Patrick Emory.  Residential open burning is allowed from Oct. 1 to April 30 for up to 27 cubic feet of cut or fallen limbs, dead branches, or shrubbery from your residence. Only up to this amount of yard waste may be burned at one time, and must be burned between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.  Burning of trash or garbara, construction and other debris, old tires, grass clippings and leaves is illegal at all times in Delaware.

The annual open burning ban – May 1 through Sept. 30 and also known as the Ozone Season – prohibits all outdoors burning, with the exception of cooking fires, recreational campfires and ceremonial bonfires using firewood. These fires are permitted year-round. Citations issued by DNREC’s Environmental Crimes Unit for all other open burning during this time are punishable by fines of $500 to $1,500, plus court costs.

DNREC also offers the following open burning tips:

• Pile materials you plan to burn as far as practical from all homes and other structures, including your neighbors’.

• Be considerate of those around you in choosing when and where to burn.

• Keep a garden hose or full water buckets ready in case you need to reduce or put out the fire.

• Monitor your fire until it is completely extinguished.

Consider using one of Delaware’s yard waste sites as an alternative to residential open burning.

Illustrated herewith are various incident alerts that are inconsistent with the aforementioned burn ban regulations within the Indian River fire district:

(1) Wednesday, May 12, 2021 - http://irvfc.com/gallery/detail/42339;

(2) Tuesday, May 18, 2021 - http://irvfc.com/gallery/detail/42379?ss=1; and

(3) Thursday, May 20, 2021 - http://irvfc.com/gallery/detail/42396?ss=1.

Further information may be found at: https://dnrec.alpha.delaware.gov/waste-hazardous/yard-waste/drop-off-sites/

Sources: Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control | News