Burn Permit Information
Permits are available at the Contoocook Fire Station on Pine Street daily or online here.
- The permit holder must be 18 years of age or older
- The permit holder must be the landowner or have the landowner's written permission
- The permit holder must have adequate suppression equipment to control the fire (ie: hose, fire extinguisher)
- There is NO burning during a Red Flag Warning day. This includes seasonal burn permits
"Snow covered ground" means the area within a 100 foot radius from the fire edge is covered with snow sufficient to prevent the combustion of woodland fuels until the fire is completely extinguished.
"Raining" means sustained precipitation that is actively occurring of sufficient intensity and duration so as to prevent fire from spreading to woodland fuels.
Category I Fire Permits:
A "category I" fire is a small controlled fire, such as a camp or cooking fire, no greater that 2 feet in diameter and contained within a ring of fire-resistive materials or in a portable fireplace.
When: Any time (no time restrictions)
What: The material to be burned must be clean, untreated wood or brush less than 5 inches in diameter
Where: Category I fires must be at least 25 feet from any structures
Additional requirements for campgrounds and picnic areas:
- Be on an area cleaned to mineral soil at least 8 inches across
- Have at least 6 inches of sand or gravel under the fire for any fire built on the ground
- Have no limbs or other combustible materials to a height of 10 feet above the fire area; an
- Have a ring of fire resistive material constructed so it cannot be moved from the mineral soil area.
Seasonal permits are allowed. Burning restricted during “Red Flag Warning”
Category II Fire Permits:
A "category II" fire is a small controlled fire, such as a camp or cooking fire, no greater than 4 feet in diameter and contained within a ring of fire-resistive materials or in a portable fireplace.
When: A category II fire can only be used between the hours of 5:00 pm and 9:00 am unless it is actively raining or the ground is snow covered
What: The material to be burned must be clean, untreated wood or brush less than 5 inches in diameter
Where: Category II fires must be at least 50 feet from any structures
Seasonal permits are allowed. Burning restricted during “Red Flag Warning”
Category III Fire Permits:
A "category III" fire is any fire other than a category I or II, or a fire greater than 4 feet in diameter or not contained within a ring of fire resistive material. Most brush fires will fall into this category.
When: A category III fire can only be used between the hours of 5:00 pm and 9:00 am unless it is actively raining or the ground is snow covered
What: The material to be burned must be clean, untreated wood or brush less than 5 inches in diameter
Where: Category III fires must be at least 50 feet from any structures
Seasonal permits NOT allowed. Multiple day permits are possible. Please call for more information.
Category IV Fire Permits:
A "category IV" fire is a fire, other than a category I fire, that can be kindled between the hours of 5:00pm and 9:00 am whether raining or not. This is a commercial permit.
When: A category IV fire permit must be jointly issued by a forest ranger and a forest fire warden. An authorized issuing agent may be used in lieu of a forest fire warden
What: The material to be burned must be clean, untreated wood or brush less than 5 inches in diameter
Where: Category IV fires must be at least 50 feet from any structures
Seasonal permits are allowed.