What am I allowed to do with fire on my own property?
I want to have a small camp fire in my backyard, but am not sure of the RI laws pertaining to fires. Am I allowed to have a fire if there is about a 6 inch hole dug and rocks around the hole? Do I have to get permit? And are there specific things I can and cannot burn in said fire?
Comments (2)
You will have to call your local fire department to find out what the regulations are.
Depends upon your local laws. Some places have banned ALL outside burning, other than contained in a grill for cooking. Some places even require a permit for that, if you’re using solid fuel (wood, briquettes).
Even if permitted, there are typically restrictions based upon fire safety and environmental concerns that vary from place to place. Generally: Can’t burn garbage. Can’t burn things that might explode. Can’t burn during certain times of day or certain weather conditions. You might have to have a fire extinguisher/water pail near by. It might have to be a minimum of 50 feet from a structure (house, fence). You might have to post somebody at the fire until it is out and cold to the touch. You might have to put out the fire if the smoke annoys anyone within 300 feet.
Call the local fire warden for further detailed information. In small towns it may be the chief of the fire department or a local fire marshal’s office that is tasked with outside fire permits.