What is Open Burning? Open burning is the burning of any materials wherein products of combustion are emitted directly into the ambient air without passing through a stack or chimney from an enclosed chamber. For this purpose, a chamber shall be regarded as enclosed, when, during the time combustion occurs, only apertures, ducts, stacks, flues, or chimneys necessary to provide combustion air and permit the escape of exhaust gas are open.

Bonfire: A bonfire is an outdoor fire utilized for ceremonial purposes.
Recreational Fire: An outdoor fire utilized to cook food for human consumption.

Restricted/Unrestricted Areas: Ohio’s Open Burning regulations distinguish between restricted and unrestricted areas. A restricted area is the entire area within the boundaries of a municipal corporation as well as within a:
– 1,000 foot boundary around cities with a population of 1,000 to 10,000
– One-mile boundary around cities with a population over 10,000

An unrestricted area is any area outside of the boundaries of a restricted area.

Open Burning In a Restricted Area:
A. Allowed Open Burning – Permit Not Required.
1. Recreational Fires
2. Heating tar, welding, acetylene torches, highway safety flares, smudge pots, heat for workers and similar occupational needs.

B. Allowed Open Burning – Requires Fire Department Permit.
1. Bonfires – shall be less than 5’x5’x5’ in dimension and shall burn no longer than 3 hours. Only dry seasoned firewood ignited with small amount of paper is allowed. The permit application shall include documentation of the event on sponsoring organization’s letterhead.
2. Disposal of residential waste or agricultural waste generated on the premises if the following conditions are observed:
a. The fire is set atmospheric conditions will readily dissipate contaminates; and
b. The fire does not create a visibility hazard on roadways, railroad tracks, or air fields; and
c. The fire is located at a point on the premises most remote from residential or populous areas and at least 1,000 feet from any inhabited building not on said premises (EPA requirement); and
d. The wastes are stacked and dried to provide the best practical condition for efficient burning; and
e. No materials are burned which contain rubber, grease, asphalt or liquid petroleum products.

Please Note: Fires allowed in restricted areas and by A1, A2 & B1 above shall not be used for waste disposal purposes, and shall be of the minimum size sufficient for their intended purpose. The fuel shall be chosen to minimize the generation and emission of air contaminants.

C. Allowed open burning – Require Prior Notification to Ohio EPA & Fire Department Permit.
1. Prevention or control of disease or pests. The necessity of burning for control must be verified to the EPA by the local health department, cooperative extension agency, Ohio Department of Agriculture or U.S. Department of Agriculture.

D. Allowed Open Burning – Requires Written Permission From Ohio EPA & Fire Department Permit.
1. Recognized silvicultural, horticultural, range, and wildlife management practices to maintain or increase the quantity or quality of production.
2. Disposal of ignitable or explosive materials with no practical alternative method of disposal.
3. Instruction in methods of firefighting or for such research in the control of fire.
4. In emergency or other extraordinary circumstances as determined necessary by the EPA.
5. Disposal of land clearing wastes other than residential or agricultural wastes if the following conditions are observed:
a. The fire is set when atmospheric conditions will readily dissipate contaminates; and
b. The fire does not create a visibility hazard on roadways, railroad tracks, or air fields; and
c. The fire is located at a point on the premises most remote from residential or populous areas and at least 1,000 feet from any inhabited building not on said premises (EPA requirement); and
d. An air curtain destructor or other device or method determined by the EPA to be at least as effective is used to curtail release of air contaminants.

Location for Open Burning The location for any open burning shall not be less than 50 feet from any structure, and provisions shall be made to prevent the fire from spreading to within 50 feet of any structure. Fires in approved containers shall not be less than 15 feet from any structure.
Exception: These distances apply only where greater separation distances are not specifically listed and or required by EPA regulations.

Attendance & Fire Control Any open burning shall be constantly attended until the fire is extinguished. At least one portable extinguisher with a minimum 4-A rating, or two extinguishers with a 2-A rating each, or other approved on-site fire extinguishing equipment such as dirt, sand, water barrel, garden hose or water truck shall be available for immediate utilization.

Prohibited Open Burning Open burning is prohibited between the hours of 6:00 am through 6:00 pm during the months of March, April, May, October and November of each year. Open burning that is or will be offensive or objectionable due to smoke or odor emissions or when atmospheric conditions or other circumstances make such fires hazardous are also not permitted. No open burning shall be conducted in an area where an alert, warning or emergency is in effect. Materials that may not be burned anywhere in Ohio at any time are materials containing rubber, grease and asphalt or made from petroleum, such as tires, cars, auto parts, plastics, or plastic-coated wire; garbage (any wastes created in the process of handling, preparing, cooking, or consumption of food); and dead animals.

Permits Where a permit to Open Burn is required from the E.P.A., please call the Toledo Environmental Services Division at 419- 936-3015 to determine if your project is likely to qualify for a permit and to obtain an application form.

Where Fire Department approval or notification is required, please contact the Providence Township Fire & Rescue Department Monday – Friday, between the hours of 8:00 am and 5:00 pm., at 419-875-6592.

OPEN BURNING REGULATIONS AND APPLICATION FORM

Below are documents you can print and retain for your file.
If applicable print, fill out and return to Providence Township.