Hooksett,NH Fire-Rescue

Q: What type of materials can I burn ?

A: Materials you wish to burn must be clean, ordinary combustables. They include untreated wood, leaves and brush less than 5 inches in diameter, campfire wood and charcoal, on-premises burning for frost prevention, agricultural, forestry, or wildlife habitat improvement, and untreated wood from construction or demolition from a building.

Q: What type of materials can't I burn?

A: Materials you can't burn include household trash, packaging materials, coated or laminated papers, painted or treated wood, coated or treated cardboard, animal, vegetable or kitchen waste, plastics, rubber, oily rags, tires, tubes, and foam. If you are unsure as to what you can and cannot burn, please contact either fire station with your question.

Q: When can I burn?

A: You can burn 7 days a week, pending it is not a restricted burning day. Restricted burning time is 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., unless it is steadily raining.

Q: What should I have on hand for fire protection?

A: A rake or shoval, hose, and/or bucket of water is recommended. Remember, you are liable for the costs of extinguishing the fire should it get out of control.

Q: Do I have to own the land I want to burn on?

A: If you do not own the land, you must have written permission from the land owner for you to burn on his/her property.

Q: Where can I burn?

A: Your burn pile must be 50 feet away from any structure; 25 feet if you are burning in an approved incinerator. The ground must be bare soil around the pile. Also make sure the overhead is clear of powerlines and trees.

Q: Do I need a permit for the burning barrels bought atthe store?

A: Yes, you will need a Catagory 1 fire permit. If desired, you can obtain a Seasonal Permit for this device.

NH State Forest Fire Class Days

Class 1- Very Low:
A day where a forest fire is not likely to start. Permits available on a Class 1 day.
Class 2- Low:
A day that the fire danger is low, but it is possible for fires to start in light, flashy fuels, but will have a slow rate of spread. Permits available on a Class 2 day.
Class 3- Moderate:
The fire danger is moderate and fine fuels in open areas and sunny slopes may spread easily. Permits issued pending conditions.
Class 4- High:
The fire danger is high and fires will start easily from all causes. Fires will spread rapidly and increase in intensity rapidly meaning they will be hard to extinguish. Spot fires may occur and, except in early spring, will burn deep. Permits not available on a Class 4 day.
Class 5- Extreme:
The fire danger is extreme and small fires will spread rapidly and be difficult to extinguish. Severe spotting may occur. Permits not available on a Class 5 day.

NH Code of Administrative Rules - Res 5601
Fire Permits

Res 5601.01 Definitions
(a) "Attended" means that an individual responsible for the fire and capable of extinguishing the fire be on the same property as the fire and be able to immediately extinguish the fire.
(b) "Burn Barrel" means a barrel or similar device not larger than 7 cubic feet in size and made of a heavy gauge metal that is solid with no holes larger than 1/2 inch in diameter and covered with a tight cover made of a metal screen or hardware cloth for the burning or permissable materials.
(c) "Catagory I fire" means a small, uncontrolled fire, such as a camp or cooking fire, no greater than four feet in diameter contained within a ring or fire resistive material or in a portable fireplace.
(d) "Catagory II fire" means a controlled fire, such as a camp or cooking fire, no greater than four feet in diameter contained within a ring or fire resistive material or in a portable fireplace.
(e) "Catagory III fire" means any other fire not in a Catagory I or Catagory II fire or a fire greater than four feet in diameter or a fire not contained within a ring or fire resistive material.
(f) "Catagory IV fire" means a fire, other than a Catagory I fire, that can be kindled between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. whether raining or not.
(g) "Commercial Burning" means the on-site burning of permissible material, by a contractor or a person using hired help, where no other means of disposal is available such as, but not limited to, chipping or hauling to an approved disposal site.
(h) "Completely Extinguished" means to extinguish so that it emits no smoke, heat or flames.
(i) "Enclosed Container" means any such purpose-built device, container, pr vessel so constructed as to be completely enclosed by solid fire resistive material, attached to a stack or chimney, and capable or regulating fire draft and constructed as a solid fuel appliance. Such approved devices are exempt from the inspections or permits required under this section.
(j) "Fire Permit" means DRED form 5601 issued for a Catagory I, II, III or IV fire.
(k) "Covered Ground with snow" means the area within a 100 foot radius from the fie edge is covered with snow or other frozen precipitation sufficient to prevent the combustion of woodland fuels for the duration of the fire.
(l) "Hardward Cloth" means a screen like material made of metal with opening no larger than 1/4 inch which is available for purchase at most hardware stores.
(m) "Open Burning" means the burning of any material wherein products of combustion are emitted directly into the ambient air without passing through a stack or chimney from an enclosed container.
(n) "Portable Fireplaces" means devices such as chimeneas, steel fire pits, and any other device designed to burn permissibale combustables other than gas or charcoal.
(o) "Raining" means sustained precipitation that is actively occuring of sufficient intensity and duration so as to prevent fire from spreading in woodland fuels.
(p) "Seasonal Permit" means a permits issued on an annual basis for a Catagory I fire.
(q) "Stack" means a manufactured or field constructed chimney for non-residential use made of solid masonary units, bricks, stones, reinforced portland cement, one or more metal walls, or made of metal with a refractory lining, or any suitable chimney lining that is capable of withstanding the flue gas conditions or its use, connected to the appliance in an air tight manner and of such heightas o properly regulate draft and control the emissino of sparks.

Res 5601.02 Fire Permit Issuing
(a) Except as provided in this section, no person other than a forest fire warden shall issue fire permits.
(b) The director shall authorize others to issue fire permits after recommendation by the forest fire warden.
(c) Catagory IV fire permits shall be issued jointly by a forest ranger and forest fire warden, or in lieu of the forest fire warden, the authorized issuing agent.

Res 5601.03 Catagory I, II and III Fire Permit.
(a) A forest fire warden or authorized issuing agent shall issue a catagory I, II, III fire permit indicating the following.

Res 5601.04 Catagory IV Fire Permit
(a) A forest ranger and forest fire warden , or in lieu of the forest fire warden, the authorized issuing agent shall issue a Catagory IV fire permit indicating the following:

(b) Prior to being issued a permit, the company's agent shall be required to provide the company's name , the town the burning location is in, and their signiture on the fire permit.

Res 5601.05 Charcoal Fires- Charcoal fires in a container off the ground kindled by the landowner or with his written permission and all controlled camp stoves shall not require a fire permit.

Res 5601.06 Age Limit- No permit shall be issued to any person under the age of 18 years of age.

Res 5601.07 Permit Restrictions- A written fire permit shall be summarily suspended pursuant to RSA 541-A:30, III if any of the following fire permit restrictions are violated:
(a) If a fire is kindled, or material is burned between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. unless it is actually raining, excepting commercial permits.
(b) If a fire is kindled, or material is burned which is in nonconformance with permit information provided for by Res 5601.02 (c).
(c) If a fire is kindled, or a material is burned during unfavorable weather conditions or when a proclammation closing the woodlands is in force. Unfavorable weather conditions shall include, but are not limited to, wind, lack of precipitation, or any other factor which could increase the fire hazard.
(d) If a fire is kindled, or a material is burned, when specified assistance or suppression equipment is not present to control the fire.
(e) If permittee fails to keep the fire under control, or if the director, the director's authorized agents, or warden feel that the material being burned is causing an unusual hazard endangering life and/or property.
(f) If material being burned violated any state law, rule, local ordinance or New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services rules regarding open burning.
(g) If a fire is left unattended at any time prior to it being completely extinguished.
(h) If fires are kindled or material burned closer than 50 feet from any structure and if provisions are not made to prevent a fire from spreading to within 50 feet of a structure unless a fire is in an enclosed container in which case it shall not be closer than 25 feet from any strucure.

Res 5601.05 Commerical Burning Permits- Commercial burning permits shall be issued jointly by a forest ranger and warden, or issuing agent for the kindling of a fire or burning of material between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. whether it is raining or not.

New Hampshire Code of Administrative Rules - Res 5602
Camp and Cooking Fires

Res 5602.01 Campfire Permit Public Places
(a) Agents and/or operators of publicly owned camp or picnic grounds shall obtain an annual written fire permit from the town forest fire warden for use of outside fireplaces.
(b) Fireplaces referenced in (a) above shall:

(1) Be on an area cleaned to mineral soil at least 8 feet across;
(2) Have at least 6 inches of sand or gravel under the fire for any fire built on the ground;
(3) Have no limbs or other burnable material to a height of 10 feet above the fireplace area; and
(4) Be constructed so they cannot be moved from their mineral soil area.

Res 5602.02 Campfire Permit Private Places
(a) Owners of privately owned camp or picnic grounds shall obtain an annual written permit from the town forest fire warden for use of approved outdoor fireplaces or other camp or cooking fires used in the operation of the camp or picnic ground.
(b) Fireplaces referenced in (a) above shall be the same as 5602.01 (b) (1-4)

Res 5602.03 Charcoal Fires- Charcoal fires in a container off the ground kindled by the landowner or with his/her written permission and all controlled camp stoves shall not require a permit

Res 5602.04 Cooking Fires- Cooking fire authorized by written permission of the appropriate forest fire warden may be kindled at any time whether it is raining or not.

New Hampshire Code of Administrative Rules - Res 5603
Disposal Sites

Res 5603.01 Authorization for Burning
(a) In addition to any other permits that might be required, written authorization in advance shall be obtained from the New Hampshire Department of Envoronmental Services for burning by cities and towns of untreated wood and dimension lumber from the demolition of buildings, leaves and brush 5 inches in diameter or less which orignates from within the state.
(b) All burning authorized under this section shall be conducted in conformity with the provisions of New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services rules Env-A 1000.
(c) A burning permit pursuant to RSA 227-L:17, II shall be required for all burning authorized under this section.

Res 5603.02 Fire Line Definition
(a) A fire line consisting of a strip at least 8 feet wide, cleared to mineral soil, shall be constructed and maintained around the brush dump site to prevent fire from spreading into adjacent areas. The fire line shall be located not less than 50 feet nor more than 100 feet from the burn area.
(b) If physical conditions exist which would make such fire line construction unfeasable, the construction of the fire line shall not be required. Such physical conditons shall include, but are not limited to hedges, swamps, marshes, roads and ledges.
(c) All growth, including trees, brush, and slash, shall be removed from the area inside the fire line. Slash shall also be removedfor a distance of 50 feet outside the fire line.
(d) The area inside the fire line shall be burned over periodically whenever there is sufficient amount of grass, weeds, brush, debris, and other flammable material to communicate fire. Other areas, as stated in paragraph (b) of this section, above where the fire line construction is unfeasable, shall also be burned over a distance of 100 feet from the burn area if it, too, bears a sufficient amount of such growth and material to comminicate fire.

Res 5603.03 Precautions
(a) On all brush burning disposal areas, an attendant shall be on duty at all times while active burning is in process.
(b) When a ban on open fires has been declared, brush disposal areas may only be burned at times when fire protection is provided to keep the fire under control and keep from spreading, as determined by the forest fire warden or a forest ranger.

Res 5603.04 Rule Violation- The local forest fire warden and/or forest ranger shall bring to the attention of the selectmen, mayors of cities or towns and city managers, any violation of these rules so that expeditious corrective action shall be effective.