Open Burning in North Carolina
North CarolinaDepartment of EnvironmentAnd Natural Resources
Seven Regional OfficesIn North Carolina
Regional Offices
Buncombe CountyWestern NC Regional Air Pollution Control Agency49 Mount Carmel Road
Asheville, NC 28806Phone: (828) 255-5655
Fax: (828) 255-5226
Forsyth County Environmental Affairs Dept.
537 N. Spruce StreetWinston-Salem, NC 27101
Phone: (336) 727-8064Fax: (336) 727-2777
Mecklenburg County Dept. of Environmental Protection
700 N. Tryon Street, Suite 205Charlotte, NC 28202
Phone: (704) 336-5500Fax: (704) 336-4391
Local Environmental Programs
Washington Regional Office943 Washington Square Mall
Washington, NC 27889Phone: (252) 946-6481
Fax: (252) 975-3716
Wilmington Regional Office127 Cardinal Drive Extension
Wilmington, NC 28405Phone: (910) 395-3900
Fax: (910) 350-2004
Winston-Salem Regional Office585 Waughtown Street
Winston-Salem, NC 27107Phone: (336) 771-4600
Fax: (336) 771-4632
Raleigh Regional OfficeP.O. Box 27687
Raleigh, NC 27609Phone: (919) 571-4700
Fax: (919) 571-4718
Mooresville Regional Office610 E. Center Avenue Suite 301
Mooresville, NC 28115Phone: (704) 663-1699
Fax: (704) 663-7579
Fayetteville Regional Office225 Green Street Suite 714
Fayetteville, NC 28301Phone: (910) 486-1541
Fax: (910) 486-0707
Asheville Regional Office2090 US Hwy 70
Swannanoa, NC 28778Phone: (828) 296-4500
Fax: (828) 299-7043
Open Burning Rule
One of NC’s oldest air quality rules
First adopted in 1971
Regulates outdoor burning
Set conditions for allowable fires
Violators can be fined up to $25,000 per violation or more in serious cases
NC Division of Forest Resources
Responsible for protecting state and privately owned forest land from forest fires
Forest fire prevention
Controlling wildfires
DFR issues open burning permits
DAQ does not issue open burning permits
Local Government Local agencies and fire officials may have other
ordinances
Local ordinances must be no less stringent than the state regulation
Following one agency’s regulation does not guarantee compliance with other agencies
Contact your local agencies prior to any open burning
Why Limit Open Burning? Smoke from open burning
pollutes the air and is unhealthy to breathe
Potential health effects include
Lung and Eye irritation Headaches, Dizziness Asthma attacks Coughing and wheezing
and Even death in some cases
If It Doesn’t Grow, Don’t Burn It
Only leaves, branches and other plant growth can be burned… nothing else – only if public pick-up is not available
It is always illegal to burn trash and other non-vegetative material
Never Burn These Materials: Trash, garbage
Lumber and Pallets
Treated wood
Tires
Newspapers and other paper products
Wire and coated wire
Structures – standing or demolished
Asphalt shingles
Plastics, synthetics
Heavy oils
Paints
Household, agricultural chemicals
Illegal Burning
It is illegal to burn trash or garbage
Illegal Burning
It is illegal to burn demolition material
Illegal Burning
It is illegal to burn construction material
Allowable Burning
Yard waste – Homeowners/Residential
Land clearing – Grading, building contractors, agriculture, etc…
The burning must follow NC Air Quality Regulations
Air Quality Forecast Area
Air Quality Forecast (May 1-September 30)
Check the forecast in your area before you burn!
www.ncair.org or 888-784-6224 (1-888-RU4NCAIR)
NC Air Awareness
Yard waste
Land clearing debris
Natural disaster material
Fire training (excluding permanent training facilities)
DAQ recommends no burning throughout the rest of the state on code orange, red, or purple days!
Code orange, red, or purple days in air quality forecast areas – cannot burn the following
NC Air Awareness
Permanent Fire Training Facilities Forest management practices Agricultural practices Wildlife management practices
Practices must be acceptable to the Division of Forest Resources, Department of Agriculture, or Wildlife Management Commission
Exceptions to prohibited open burning on code orange, red, or purple days
Burning Yard Waste
Burning Yard Waste Must originate on PRIVATE residence and be burned on that
site
Allowed only if no public pickup available
Leaves, branches, grass clippings, and other plant waste
Does not allow stumps and logs over 6 inches in diameter
Must occur between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m.
Air quality forecast - Code green or yellow
Smoke cannot create a nuisance
Land Clearing Debris
Burning Land Clearing Debris Only vegetative material such as logs, stumps and large limbs
May use kerosene or diesel fuel to start
Must occur between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m.
250 feet from public road (Wind Direction – National Weather Service Forecast)
1,000 feet from occupied structure (not on site)
Air Quality Forecast - Code Green or Yellow
Vegetative Debris must originate on site where burning taking place
Every pile can be considered a separate violation
Setback Exception Open burning land clearing debris
Allows open burning within 1,000 feet of occupied structures (not on site)
DAQ prior approval required
Setback Exception Process
Responsible party
Burn dates – Begin and end
Burn site information – Location, map & size area
Signed statement waiving objections – Everyone within 1,000 ft. of burn pile(s)
DAQ prior approval required
The following information is required:
Is This Legal?
Air Curtain Burner
Air Curtain Burner Requirements
Vegetative material only (On-site)
250 feet from public road
500 feet from occupied structure (not on site)
10% Opacity limit (excluding 45 minute start-up)
Air quality forecast - Code green or yellow
DAQ prior notification and approval required
Fire Fighter Training
Fire Fighter Training
Training exercises at permanent fire training
facilities (Under supervision of colleges and fire academies/training centers)
No DAQ notification or prior approval required
Fire Fighter Training
Abandoned structures – Extinguish & rescue
Junked vehicles – Extinguish & rescue
DAQ notification form & prior approval required
Impermissible Fire Training
Salvageable items, such as insulated wire and electric motors
If the primary purpose of the fire is to dispose of synthetic materials or refuse.
Previously demolished structures
Fire Fighter Training Notification
Meet The Following Conditions
Notification – Regional office (10 days prior to burn – can FAX)
Notification and approval – HHCU/Asbestos (Notification must be postmarked 10 working days prior to the start date. Faxes not accepted)
Change schedule – Notify HHCU in writing prior to original start date and Call DAQ regional office
Air quality forecast - Code green or yellow
Training Objective - Experience
Other Allowable Burning
Campfires
Outdoor cooking
Bonfires for festive occasions
Managing forests or wildlife habitats
Controlling agricultural pests and diseases
Disposing VEGETATIVE storm debris from hurricanes
and other natural disasters (Requires DAQ prior approval)
Open Burning Compliance DAQ receives complaint
Investigate complaint
Other investigations/inspections Fire marshal Other fire officials Solid waste officials Other state/local officials
Other investigations Here’s what we’d like to know
Materials being burned How big the pile or area burned is Pictures of the burning and around the open
burning site Name of violator and any contact information
Enforcement
Document Violation
Issue Notice of Violation
Notice of Recommendation for Enforcement
Civil Penalty Assessment (Up to $10,000 per violation)
Open Burning Alternatives Compost yard waste
Chip tree limbs
Land clearing debris Haul to sawmill or pulpwood yard Chip or tub grind remaining material
Recycle or re-use non-vegetative material
Contact local solid waste facility
Call Pollution Prevention www.p2pays.org OR 1-(800) 763-0136
Breathe… Don’t Burn!
Outdoor fires pollute the air
Smoke is unhealthy to breathe
Recycle or properly dispose of waste
Contact Information
www.ncair.org
Call 1-877-OPEN BURN (1-877-673-6287)
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