With the official start of Tennessee’s wildfire season on Thursday, October 15, the Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance (TDCI) and the Tennessee State Fire Marshal’s Office reminds Tennesseans to always obtain a debris burn permit before burning leaves or debris and focus on safe burning practices all season in order to help prevent fires including wildfires.
“While Tennesseans are spending time outside this fall practicing socially distant activities, we remind everyone to always obtain a debris burn permit before burning leaves and incorporate basic fire safety measures into their outdoor agenda,” said TDCI Commissioner and State Fire Marshal Hodgen Mainda. “These simple safety steps can prevent a potentially tragic wildfire from ever occurring.”
From October 15 through May 15, anyone starting an open-air fire in Tennessee within 500 feet of a forest, grassland or woodland must by law secure a burn permit. The Tennessee Department of Agriculture’s Division of Forestry provides burn permits for leaf and brush piles online at no charge. For larger, broadcast burning, such as forestry, agricultural, and land clearing, call your local Division of Forestry burn permit phone number Mon. through Fri., 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. The online system for permits and phone numbers can be found at www.BurnSafeTN.org.
Permits are issued only when conditions are conducive to safe burning. If you live inside city limits, there may be additional restrictions. Check with your local municipality before you burn.
Before burning, follow these precautions to help ensure outdoor burning is conducted properly:
A list of materials that may not be burned can be found in the open burning guidelines from the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation.
Burning without a permit is a Class C misdemeanor and is punishable by up to 30 days in jail and/or a fine. Wildfires caused by arson are a class C felony punishable by three to 15 years in prison and up to $10,000 in fines. Anyone with information about an arson should call the Arson Hotline (1-800-762-3017).
The Arson Hotline is a phone line dedicated to receiving information about suspicious and incendiary fires. It is answered 24 hours a day and you may remain anonymous when providing information. Cash awards, provided solely through the generous as-sistance of the Tennessee Advisory Committee on Arson (TACA), are offered for infor-mation leading to an arrest or conviction. To report illegal burning, call 1-888-891- TDEC.
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