ISSUANCE OF BURNING PERMITS:

In the Town of Williston, all resident must obtain a permit to burn from the Fire Department before kindling a fire. To obtain a burn permit, you must contact the On-Duty Shift Officer via Duty Pager (#: 250-0003). Burning of brush should be at a convenient time for the requester, the person issuing the permit, and any residents or workers in the Town of Williston. Therefore, burning is best performed on weekends, when businesses are not as adversely affected and trained personnel are more readily available to oversee the burning process.

Burning Permits Are Good Only For The Day They Were Issued.

PROCEDURE:

The daily Duty Officer will be responsible for the issuance and managing of all burning permits, as follows:

• Burning permits will be issued from 0800 Hrs. until 1600 Hrs., each day.

• The Duty Officer will receive requests to burn brush by duty pager only (Duty Pager #: 250-0003).

• As soon as practical, the Duty Officer will visit the site where the burning is to take place, and meet with the requester. The “Guidelines for Burning” will be reviewed with the requester, and the permit will be completed and signed by both the requester and the Duty Officer. Only after this form is signed will a burning permit be issued.

• The Duty Officer will attempt to re-visit the site during the day to check on progress, and will re-visit the site should weather or other conditions change.

• Should any violations of the permit be observed, the Fire Warden is to be contacted.

GUIDELINES FOR BURNING:

ALLOWABLE MATERIALS: Brush not larger than four inches (4”) in diameter. Brush is defined as sticks, twigs, limbs, and small trees.

PROHIBITED MATERIALS: Construction debris, tires, garbage, rubbish, shingles, plastics, tubes, leaves, pallets, pressure treated or painted lumber, furniture, books and magazines, stumps, roofing shingles, bedding, household fixtures, garbage, refuse or other waste, and any other material which does not conform to the definition of brush.

PROHIBITED ACTIVITY: Using accelerants (oils, waste oil, gasoline, diesel fuel, etc.) to either start, accelerate, or prolong the burn.

EXCEPTION: Untreated wood products burned within the confines of a permanent, i.e. stone or rock, enclosure (campfire) are allowed, provided #s 2,4 and 5 below are followed, and the enclosure is not more than four feet in diameter.

Notice: It is unlawful to burn prohibited materials and anything else that is man made materials.

Materials burned must comply with the requirements of VSA Title 10, Section 2645, and other requirements as established by the Town.

All burning should be completed by dusk - much of the year, this is at or before 1900 hours.

REQUIREMENTS TO BE MET BEFORE BEING ISSUED A BURNING PERMIT:

1) You must be 18 years of age to be issued a burn permit.
2) Only “Allowable Materials,” as outlined above, may be burned.
3) A water source, under pressure, must be available, and able to surround the entire burn pile.
4) All fires must be fed in such a way that they will be completely out by dusk.
5) Wind must be below 4 mph. If wind speed or gusts exceed 3 mph at any time, the fire must immediately be put out.
6) The fire must be attended at all times, until it is completely extinguished.
7) You must own the land where you intend to burn. If you do not, you must have the owner's written approval.
8) The fire must be 50 feet away from the nearest field, woodland, or structure.
9) Any fire that creates or adds to a hazardous or objectionable situation or becomes a nuisance shall be extinguished.
10) Even with a valid permit, under state law, any damages cause as a result of a fire becomes the obligation of the party responsible for kindling the fire, including fire suppression

YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR FIRE, AND ITS SMOKE