Open brush burning in Massachusetts is regulated by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection and enforced by the local Fire Department. Open burning season begins January 15th through May 1st. A valid permit obtained from the Holden Fire Department is required. The Fire Chief reserves the right to deny open burning on
any day due to weather or environmental conditions. If the weather is windy/high winds, please call the the Fire Department at 508-210-5650 to determine if open burning is permited for the day.
The Holden Fire Department has an online system to obtain brush burn permits (see below):
The fees are as follows:
$20-open burn permit (applied in person)-valid through May 1st
$23-open burn permit (applied online)-valid through May 1st
NOTE: Open burning begins at 10:00AM, and all fires shall be extinguised by 4:00PM. Firefighters will be conducting spot checks through the burning season!
OBTAINING A PERMIT FOR OPEN BURNING:
You can now obtain a permit two ways!
1. Visit Fire Headquarters between 8:30AM and 4:00PM Monday – Friday. The Fire Administration Division will assist you in obtaining a permit.. You will be assigned a permit number which will be required each time you activate it during the burning season.
OR
2. Buy your permit online:
Click here to obtain your permit by filling out the form online. To obtain your permit online, you will need a valid credit card, email address, agree to the terms and conditions of the open burning regulations, and pay the $20* fee online (*an additional $3.00 convenience fee applies to all credit card transactions done online). This permit will be valid through May 1st. You will be assigned a permit number which will be required each time you activate it during the burning season.
DAILY ACTIVATION OF YOUR PERMIT:
Each day you burn, you must activate your permit! This can be done two ways:
OR
2. Call the Fire Department at (508) 210-5650 the previous day you wish to burn, or call before 9:30 AM the morning you are burning. Please be ready to give Fire personnel your name, address,phone number, and and burn permit number.
For assistance, please contact Fire Headquarters at (508) 210-5650.
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