During the forest fire seasons, March 1 to May 31 and October 1 to December 31, no open burning may be conducted between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. unless a burning permit is obtained from the Division of Forestry and the proper permit fees paid.

Statewide, Part 215 (leaves DEC) bans open burning from March 16 through May 14 – every year. Since the spring burn ban was implemented in 2009, the number of wildfires has decreased by more than 40%.

In most cases, yes it does. That being said, many municipalities define open burning to not include burning in a fire pit that is off the ground or covered, as they are less likely to come in contact with other flammable materials by accident, and are less prone to wind-blown sparks and spreading.

Bonfires and barbecues are not banned by the Clean Air Act, but if you create a lot of smoke you may be causing a statutory nuisance. Burning garden waste on a bonfire is unnecessary and unpleasant for your neighbours.

It’s not illegal to light bonfires, and there are no official restrictions on when how often they can be burned. However, there are environmental laws that stipulate against a bonfire causing harm to health, the environment, or to the neighbours’ enjoyment of their property by producing excess smoke.

Why are fire pits bad for the environment and your health? When burning wood in a fire pit, it is constantly releasing smoke into the air surrounding it. These pollute the air that you breathe, and damage any trees or vegetation nearby. They are also all greenhouse gases which are a main factor of climate change.

Moisture is the most common reason why a fire will produce smoke. Only properly dried and stored wood should be used in a fire pit. Moist wood is usually a result of wood that wasn’t stored properly. When the wood is burned, the water evaporates and turns into smoke.

Without enough air, any fire will not burn efficiently, may smolder, and subsequently produce more smoke. The main tell-tale sign of an insufficient supply of oxygen is excessive smoke. Smoke from any fire means that the fuel is not burning completely or properly.

When you breathe in smoke, the particles can get deep into your respiratory system. You’ve likely experienced the results before — stinging eyes, runny nose and coughing. These symptoms are short-lived for most people. But for those with underlying respiratory illnesses, inhaling smoke is dangerous.

The biggest health threat from smoke is from fine particles. These microscopic particles can penetrate deep into your lungs. They can cause a range of health problems, from burning eyes and a runny nose to aggravated chronic heart and lung diseases. Exposure to particle pollution is even linked to premature death.

Although the image of a log fire is often associated with the holidays, romance and cozy nights inside shielded from plummeting temperatures, experts say wood-burning appliances are a threat to lung and heart health. They emit harmful air pollutants and fine particles that can enter the lungs and bloodstream.

Don’t Use Pine Even if it’s readily available in your surroundings, it’s best to avoid burning pine in your fire pit. Pine burns significantly faster and hotter than many other varieties of lumber, making it a poor choice for fire pits.

Oak