Outdoor burning guidelines across the TN Valley

From Local 3 News: Campfire season is just around the corner. Generally, you can throw twigs, small tree limbs, and leaves in your fire pit year-round.

But before you start burning debris outdoors or hosting big bonfires, though, it's always important to review your local guidelines.

Regardless where you are, officials say you should always:

• Check with local authorities to make sure there are no restrictions in place
• Notify your local fire department and neighbors
• Refrain from burning on windy days
• Stay informed of changing weather conditions
• Establish wide control lines down to bare mineral soil at least five feet wide around burn piles
• Keep fire containment equipment on hand (rake, shovel, water)
• Stay with the fire until it's completely out

If you have the choice to not burn debris, consider alternatives like composting, chipping, shredding, grinding, or disposing in a landfill.


TENNESSEE
A permit from the Tennessee Division of Forestry is required for all open-air debris burning from October 15 to May 15. That rule does not include small campfires.
The burning of trash, tires, plastics, and building materials is illegal statewide, but you may burn leaves, branches, tree limbs, twigs, lawn clippings, woody vegetation, yard trimmings, clean unpainted, uncoated wood or untreated lumber.
Campfires are generally permitted year-round.

Courtesy of Izzy WisherGeneral statewide rules apply across Tennessee, but some counties and cities may have additional restrictions.

Visit BurnSafeTN's website for additional safety tips and information.

Hamilton County

In Hamilton County, burning regulations are enforced by the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Air Pollution Control Bureau. You can apply for a burn permit through their website.

For residents in unincorporated Hamilton County and the towns of Lakesite, Lookout Mountain, Signal Mountain, Soddy Daisy and Walden, there is a $10 fee.

If you're inside the city limits of Chattanooga, Collegedale, East Ridge, Red Bank, and Ridgeside, the fee is $60 and an inspection is required.

Controlled burn permits (more than two acres) carry a $500 fee. Inspection is mandatory.

Bradley County

Bradley County follows state guidelines, with permits required from October 15 to May 15. Call your local fire department for more information.

The City of Cleveland prohibits open burning by ordinance, and does not issue burn permits. You can call the Cleveland Fire Department at 423-476-1917 for more information.

McMinn County

McMinn County follows state guidelines, with permits required from October 15 to May 15. Call your local fire department for more information.

Within Athens city limits, a permit is required year-round. After acquiring one, notify McMinn County 911 online.


Rhea County

Rhea County follows state guidelines, with permits required from October 15 to May 15. Call your local fire department for more information.

The City of Dayton has specific rules for open burning within city limits:

• Keep fires at least 50 feet from structures
• Burn only leaves and limbs; no trash, tires, or platics
• Have a hose or other firefighting method on home
• Never leave the fire unattended

Polk, Meigs, Bledsoe, Sequatchie, Grundy & Marion Counties

All of these counties follow state guidelines, with permits required from October 15 to May 15. Call your local fire department for more information.

GEORGIA

The yearly statewide burn ban (May 1 to September 30) just ended.
 
For hand-piled natural vegetation like leaves and limbs (less than 3 feet in diameter and 2 feet in height) a permit is not required in unincorporated areas.

Rules are still in place, though. Georgia advises burners to follow the "S-S-T-A-R" formula:

• S – Space – 25+ feet between fire and woodlands
• S – Space – 50+ feet between fire and structures
• T – Time – sunrise to sunset
• A – Attendance – Person responsible on-site until the fire is extinguished
• R – Reasonable precautions – Tools/measures in place to prevent escaped fire.

It's illegal to burn household garbage, lumber, or plastic. You can find a full list of legal burn activities on the Environmental Protection Division's website.

Learn more on when and how to get a permit on the Georgia Forestry Commission's website.

Walker County

Walker County follows state guidelines. Call your local fire department for more information.

Burn permits for Lafayette, Rossville, Chickamauga, and Lookout Mountain are issued by that city. Read more on the county's page on burning rules.

Dade, Catoosa, Whitfield, Murray Counties

All of these counties follow state guidelines. Call your local fire department for more information.


ALABAMA

Jackson County

Jackson County has an annual burn ban active from May 1 to October 31 to protect air quality and reduce wildfire risk. The ban prohibits the open burning of leaves, brush, and debris, except for cooking fires or small campfires.

Within the City of Scottsboro, fires for food cooking and fireplaces are allowed. Lawn debris and leaves may be burned under the following conditions:

• A responsible adult resident/owner must be present
• Only one pile measured four feet in diameter and four feet in height can be burned at a time
• No stumps or whole trees
• Not closer than 100 feet to any structure
• A working garden hose or extinguisher present within 50 feet
• Must be between 8:00am and 6:00pm. The fire must be extinguished by 6pm   

NORTH CAROLINA

Cherokee County

North Carolina law prohibits burning trash and non-vegetative materials. Leaves, branches, and other plant growth can be burned under certain conditions, though.

You can apply for a debris burning permit online. Call your local fire department for more information.