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FIRE SAFETY GUIDELINE OPEN BURNING This guide defines and outlines the fire safety requirements and prohibitions related to the OPEN BURNING of materials within the City of Whitefish and the surrounding Whitefish Fire Service Area. There is no Open Burning within the City of Whitefish without first receiving a permit from The City of Whitefish Fire Marshal. The definition of an open burn is the burning of any material where the products of combustion are emitted directly into the ambient air without passing through a stack or chimney from an enclosed chamber. The City of Whitefish Fire Department supports open burning for forest health, agricultural purposes, and wildfire mitigation purposes with the understanding that there are risks to these fires that will need to be mitigated for safety and health reasons. These risks include: air pollution posing a nuisance or health threat, obscured visibility along routes of travel, escaped or loss of fire control, and sparks or embers. These risks are managed by enforcement of codes and regulations. Annual Burning Seasons In general, the burning seasons are: January 1 to February 29 NO OPEN BURNING. March 1 to April 30 PERMIT REQUIRED within City Limits, plus Air Quality Approval. NO PERMIT outside the City, Air Quality Approval necessary. May 1 to June 30 PERMIT REQUIRED within City Limits: from City and DNRC, Air Quality Approval necessary. PERMIT REQUIRED outside City limits: from DNRC, Air Quality Approval necessary. July 1 to September 30 NO OPEN BURNING. October 1 to November 30 PERMIT REQUIRED within City Limits, plus Air Quality Approval. NO PERMIT outside the City, Air Quality Approval necessary. December 1 to January 1 NO OPEN BURNING. For Air Quality Approval call the Air Quality Hotline at [PHONE REDACTED] ---PAGE BREAK--- City of Whitefish Open Burning Permit Requirements: 1. A permit is required for any open burning within the City of Whitefish. Open burning includes slash piles, field or ditch burning but not recreational fires. 2. A $25.00 Inspection Fee will need to be paid at time of application. 3. A $500.00 Deposit Fee is required to cover initial costs in the event the Whitefish Fire Department responses for an escaped or out of control fire. The property owner may be billed for any and all additional costs incurred by Whitefish Fire Department for responders, equipment, and mutual-aid resources that are used in the containment of the fire. The $500 deposit will be returned at the end of the permit period if the services of the fire department were not required. 4. The City of Whitefish’s Fire Marshal, or designee, will conduct a site inspection prior to the issuing of the permit. The Fire Marshal or designee will approve or disapprove the permit request. This inspection shall be scheduled with the Fire Marshal only after the burn pile is assembled. While the Fire Department will do everything it can to conduct the inspection in a timely manner, please allow up to 10-working days for completion of the application process. 5. The Fire Marshal, or designee, may cancel any and all open burn permits at any time due to weather conditions or any other risk factor. 6. Each permit application shall include the following information: a. The property owner’s contact information and their approval for the burn. b. The on-site responsible party’s name and contact information for the burn. c. Date(s) of proposed burn. d. A site map that shows the best access to the site for fire apparatus. Location of Burn Pile. The burn pile must be at least 50-feet from any structures or combustible material with no overhead wires or branches within 25-feet of the space directly above the pile. On-site fire extinguishing equipment, such as dirt, water barrel, garden hose, fire extinguisher, etc. shall be approved by the Fire Marshal and available for immediate utilization. Allowable Burn Materials. Only natural vegetation (e.g. slash) no larger than 4-inch in diameter can be burned. Do not burn piles of pine needles or other yard rakings, as they produce considerable smoke and smolder. These fires are considered nuisance and health hazard fires and will be extinguished by the fire department. In addition, garbage or construction site wastes are prohibited materials and may not be burned. Attendance. Open burns shall be constantly attended until the fire is extinguished, cold to the touch. Recreational Fires, such as Camp Fires and Warming Fires do not require a permit; however, these fires may not be started if any fire restrictions have been put in place by the City, DNRC, or County. See Guidelines for Recreational Fires. The City of Whitefish Fire Department shall have the authority to cause any fire to be extinguished if it is determined that there is a danger to public safety, a danger to public or private property, a nuisance, sign of environmental harm or violation of regulations. If you have any questions regarding fire safety requirements within the City of Whitefish or the surrounding Whitefish Fire Service Area contact: Fire Marshal Travis Tveidt at [PHONE REDACTED] or [EMAIL REDACTED].