Burn permits required as fire season approaches

JACKSON, Tenn. — Tennessee’s fire season kicks of next week. Get caught burning without a permit and the state said you could face a fine or jail time.

Madison County Fire Department Chief Eric Turner said grass fires and wildfires pick up this time of year. “Anytime you have the dry conditions, low humidity and the winds pick up, that’s when we have the biggest problems,” Turner said.

Madison County and the city of Jackson both require property owners to get a permit if they plan to burn debris. Turner said his department issues burn permits on a day-to-day basis. “As long as the winds are 10 miles an hour and less, that’s when we issue burn permits,” he said.

The Tennessee Department of Agriculture Forestry Division requires burn permits Oct. 15 through May 15.

District Forester Roy Ward recommended having water and equipment on hand to keep the fire contained. “The main thing is keep an eye on it and don’t go back in the house while it’s burning,” he said.

If you are caught burning without a permit, the punishment varies. The state said violators could be cited, have to pay a $50 fine plus court costs, or even spend 30 days in jail. “If you had a fire and it was to damage somebody else’s property, you would be liable for that,” Turner said.

Ward recommended burning between 7 a.m. and 12 p.m. and after 5 p.m.

Burn permits are free. For more information, contact the Madison County Fire Department at 731-424-5577 or the Jackson Fire Department at 731-245-8350. You can also get more information at burnsafetn.org.