Burning permits will soon be required in Tennessee as fall wildfire season approaches
MGN
Tenn. (WDEF) — Tennessee residents will have to acquire a burn permit from the Tennessee Department of Agriculture Division of Forestry (TDF) beginning October 15.
According to the TDF, Tennessee usually has two fire seasons.
The Spring fire season ranges from approximately February 15 and ends near May 15.
The Fall fire season typically lasts from around October 15 to December 15.
The Fall fire season usually doesn’t last as long due to shorter, cooler, and wetter days.
“Tennessee experiences about 1,000 wildland fires each year, burning roughly 18,000 acres, and more than 90% are caused by humans,”
“With extra debris from Hurricane Helene, there’s more fuel for fires this season. Getting a burn permit, burning safely, and avoiding risky activity can greatly reduce wildfire danger.”
– State Forester Heather Slayton
The TDF says that burn permits help them communicate when and where it is safe to burn.
Permits are only issued when it is safe to burn.
Burn permits are free and available at www.BurnSafeTN.org or by using the MyTN mobile app.
Alternatively, residents may call 877-350-BURN (2876).
When required, burning without a permit is a class C misdemeanor, while leaving a fire unattended is a class B misdemeanor.
Fires must be fully extinguished by the permit’s expiration.
Residents inside city limits are urged to check local regulations before any burning.
For more information about burning restrictions and illegal materials to burn, please visit www.tn.gov/environment/air/open-burning.html.
