Due to extremely dangerous fire conditions, the Fire Warden is prohibiting all outdoor burning, including previously permitted seasonal campfires. See below the order by the Chief of the New Hampshire Forest Protection Bureau. These restrictions will not be lifted until a substantial change in the weather takes place. Please check with any of the three Wardens in town about getting burn permits in the future.
Ken Callahan, Fire Warden, Town of Sharon 924-3726
Peter Paris, Deputy Fire Warden 924-4078
Francis Guptill, Deputy Fire Warden 924-3013
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
DEPARTMENT of NATURAL and CULTURAL
RESOURCES
DIVISION of FORESTS and LANDS
172 Pembroke Road Concord, New Hampshire
03301
603-271-2214
To: Forest Fire Wardens, Deputy Wardens,
Special Deputy Wardens, Fire Departments
From: Steven Sherman, Chief, NH Forest
Protection Bureau
Date: September 25, 2020
Subject: State Prohibition on Open Fires
and Smoking in and near woodlands
Today the Governor and Council signed a Proclamation prohibiting open fires and smoking in and near woodlands. This was done because of the fire conditions we have and will continue to have as we enter Fall. The drought conditions are severe across the state and wildfire indices are at the point where the potential for large fire activity exists.
What prohibitions are contained in the
Proclamation?
Also to note: The online fire permit system has been shut down until weather conditions improve.…it shall be unlawful for any person in the State to Kindle an open fire, including fires built for camping, the burning of debris, or warming, on all public trails or other public property, excluding public Campgrounds, to smoke a pipe, cigar and/or cigarette outdoors in or near public woodlands or on public trails, to kindle a category 3 “fire;” a fire greater than 4 feet in diameter or a fire not contained within a ring of fire resistive material
What this means is:
All fires are prohibited on public lands, except in a campground
Category 3 fires are banned everywhere, public and private lands
Category 1 and 2 fires are allowed on private property with a fire
permit
No smoking is allowed in or near public woodlands or on public
trails
Post the Proclamation Signs in public
places and at access points to public lands in your town. A
copy of the sign is attached to this letter
for you to print and post. Contact
public and private campgrounds to discuss fire prevention measures, staffing at
campgrounds, and ensure all extra
campground requirements are still in place for each campfire.
o Advise your Forest Ranger when fire
danger conditions change in your community as well as any
permit restrictions in place. While not prohibited in the proclamation, per
Res 5601.04(a)(5)
Category 1 and 2 permits may be suspended
by the Forest Fire Warden if they determine weather
conditions to be unfavorable. Res 5608.01 Unfavorable weather conditions
shall include, but not
be limited to, wind, lack of precipitation,
or any other factor which could increase fire hazard
Sincerely,
Steven Sherman
Chief, New Hampshire Forest Protection
Bureau