Town of Athol Burn Permits
Apply for your online permit today.
Apply for your online permit today.
OPEN BURNING RULES IN ATHOL, MA
1. Open burning is conducted in accordance with MA Regulation 310 CMR 7.07.
2. The open burning season is from January 15th through May 1st. A new permit is required for each burning season.
3. No such open burning shall apply to commercial or institutional land clearing for non-agricultural purposes.
4. Permits may be issues to non-property owners as long as they have written permission from the property owner.
5. You may obtain your permit online at http://massfire.net/brush/athol.php. This link can also be found on the town website (Athol-ma.gov) Government Tab-Fire Department-Brush Burning. If no computer available, you may stop into the Fire Station.
6. Permits are issued on a DAILY basis and may not be allowed at any time due to a high fire danger or adverse weather conditions. To activate your daily permit, call (978)248-0281 between 8:30 am and 11:30 am in order to burn that day. This must be done for each day you wish to burn. Fires may be started at 10 and must be COMPLETELY EXTINGUISHED by 4 pm.
7. Fires must be 75 feet from any dwelling.
8. Fires MUST be attended by a RESPONSIBLE ADULT at all times!
9. You can only burn brush (less than 4” in diameter). You may NOT burn grass, leaves, stumps, or other construction debris. No accelerants may be used.
10. A sufficient water supply must be available. A garden hose is preferred.
11. A minimum of a ten (10) foot area around the fire must be kept clear of any combustibles (leaves, brush, etc.)
12. The Fire Department must be notified immediately via 911 if the fire gets out of your control. Do not wait to contact us.
13. The Fire Department may periodically inspect any permitted burning. If any of the above criteria are not met, the fire will be extinguished and you may not be allowed to burn for the remainder of the year’s burning season and a citation and/or fine may be issued.
Only residents can obtain a permit. No commercial or industrial land clearing will be allowed for non-agricultural purposes. Permits may be issued to non-property owners as long as they have written permission from the property owner. Permits are conditional and may be revoked at any time.
You may register online using this website, or you can visit us in person.
You can only burn brush (less than 4" in diameter). You may NOT burn grass, leaves, stumps, or other construction debris. No accelerants may be used.
If you want to have an open-air fire for brush burning, then yes, you need an approved permit. If you are having a barbecue, a permit is not required.
Permits are issued on a DAILY basis and may not be allowed due to high fire danger or adverse weather conditions. To activate your daily permit, call (978)248-0281 between 8:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. in order to burn that day.
After you have activated your permit for the day, you can start burning at 10 a.m. and the fire must be fully extinguished by 4 p.m.