General Conditions for ANY Fire in the State of Indiana (326 IAC 4-1)

*    Only clean wood material (including vegetation and paper) and clean petroleum products may be burned.  For burning purposes, clean wood material refers to wood products/vegetation that are not coated with stain, paint, glue, or other materials.  Clean petroleum products refers to refined petroleum products (e.g., kerosene, or diesel fuel) not previously used in any application (no waste oils, used solvents, etc.).

*    The fire must be attended at all times during burning until it is completely extinguished.

*    The fire shall be extinguished if it creates a nuisance or fire hazard.

*    No asbestos containing materials may be burned.

*    Burning may not be conducted during: "unfavorable" meteorological conditions such as: high wings, temperature inversions air stagnation, etc.

A.  Conditions.  All fires are subject to the general State conditions as well as the following additional conditions:

    1.    The Fire shall be extinguished if it creates a pollution problem or threat to public health.

    2.    No burning shall be conducted when a pollution alert or Ozone Action/Alert Day has been declared.

     3.    Adequate firefighting equipment shall be on-site for extinguishing purposes during  burning.

B.  The following types of fires are allowed and DO NOT REQUIRE A PERMIT:

   1.    Recreational or ceremonial fires (e.g., scouting activities), and fires used for cooking purposes (e.g., camp fires).  These fires are subject to the general State conditions, conditions noted in part A of this section, as well as the following additional conditions:

       a.    The local fire department and health department must be notified at least 24 hours prior to any burning if the pile being burned is more than 125ft^3 (5'x5'x5').

        b.    The pile cannot exceed 1,000 ft^3 (10'x10'x10').

        c.    The fire shall not be used for disposal purposes.

        d.    The fire shall not take place within 500 ft of any fuel storage area or pipeline.

    2.    Burning for the purpose of heating (i.e., strikers and construction workers).  These fires are subject to the general State conditions, conditions noted in part A of this section, as well as the following additional conditions:

        a.    Burning shall be in a noncombustible container, sufficiently vented with enclosed sides and bottom.

        b.    Burning shall only occur between October 1 and May 15.

    3.    Private residential burning where the building contains 4 or fewer dwelling units.  Burning is prohibited in apartment, condominium complexes, and mobile home parks.  These fires are subject to the general State conditions, conditions noted in part A of this section, as well as the following additional conditions:

     a.    Burning shall be conducted during daylight hours only, and all fires shall be extinguished prior to sunset.

        b.    Burning shall be in a  noncombustible container, sufficiently vented with enclosed sides and bottom.

    4.    Prescribed burning by government agencies, including:  Department of Natural Resources, USDA Forest Service, and the Department of the Interior.

    5.    Burning of Vegetation by firefighters to create fire breaks for the purpose of extinguishing an existing fire.  This type of burning is not subject to the conditions in part A of this section.

    6.    Burning of clean petroleum products for fire extinguisher training.  These fires are subject to the general State conditions, conditions noted in part A of this section, as well as the following additional conditions:

        a.    The local fire department and health department must be notified at least 24 hours in advance of the date, time, and location of the burning.

        b.    All burning shall take place in a noncombustible container, sufficiently vented with enclosed sides and bottom.

        c.    No more than 14 gallons of fuel may be burned per day.

        d.    Only 1 fire may be allowed to burn at a time, and burning shall be conducted to prevent soil contamination with petroleum products.

    7.    Fire for Maintenance Purposes.  These fires are subject to the general conditions only.  Allowable maintenance fires includes:

    a.    Burning of vegetation from a farm, orchard, nursery, tree farm, or drainage ditch.  Note:  farm related burning may only be conducted on property which is zoned as agricultural.

     b.    Burning of undesirable wood structures, or wood remnants from the demolition of predominantly wood structures, originally located on real property located in an unincorporated area.

c.    Burning of clean petroleum products for the purpose of maintaining or repairing railroad tracks, including the railroad right of way.  Note:  A person MAY NOT burn railroad ties.

ALL OTHER FIRES must be approved by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM), including:

*    Burning for the purpose of fire training (e.g., live structure fire training).

*    Burning of hazardous materials for which no alternative disposal method exists or where transportation of such material is hazardous.

*    Burning of natural land growth derived from a non-agricultural clearing operation or for the purpose of land management.

*    Burning of clean wood products.

IDEM Southwest Regional Office may be contacted at (812) 436-2570.

The Marrs Twp. Fire Department