Controlled Burns & Burn Bans

All persons participating in any agricultural or open burn in Pottawatomie County shall abide by Pottawatomie County Resolution 2009-17. Before any open burning is performed, please go to Pottawatomie County website www.pottcounty.org click on the upper right hand corner, then click County Burn Policy Status. You can see all the current and forecasted weather, wind warnings, and Forestry Fire Rating for the County. All permit holders are advised to sign up for Pottawatomie County Burn Notification through the NE Regional Emergency Alert System (http://www.pottcounty.org/EmergencyMngt/EAlerts.html) to receive updates during the burn season on burn restrictions. DO NOT call Sheriff Department for weather updates.

Household trash burning does not require a permit. All household burning shall be done in a metal container with a fire (spark) screen cover. ALL FIRES MUST BE MONITORED UNTIL OUT!

The following burns will require a permit:

  1. Crop, range, and/or pasture land
  2. Wildlife or Watershed management
  3. Small brush piles
  4. All others in accordance with K.A.R. 28-19-647

Exceptions:

  1. Household Trash (shall have a fire screen cover)
  2. Open burning for cooking
  3. Ceremonial purposes
  4. Recreational burns (camp fires)

Prohibited Items:

  1. Lumber and lumber products
  2. Shingles/tarpaper
  3. Asbestos material ( flooring, pipe covering, siding, etc.)
  4. Tires
  5. Oils, or any petroleum products
  6. Any heavy smoke producing materials.
  7. Treat lumber or creosote soaked poles

Restrictions on open burning in the month of APRIL:

1. K.A.R. 28-19-645a. A person shall not cause or permit open burning operations of any waste, including vegetation and wood waste, structures, or any other materials on any premises during the month of April. Only grass and range land is permitted during this time frame.

If you have large tree pile to burn (land clearing piles), you must receive written permission from the State of Kansas. (KDHE) Kansas Department of Health and Environment.

We do have application forms here in our office available for you to fill out. Please allow time for processing by the State. Call and we can mail them to you or send it by E-mail.

Procedure:

The procedure for burning will require the person wishing to burn to apply for, and have received a valid burning permit for Pottawatomie County. The permit holder must contact the Pottawatomie County Sheriff’s Dispatch Center at 785-457-3353 before starting any burn and provide the following information;

  1. Name
  2. Permit Number
  3. Location of burn
  4. Phone Number
  5. Size or area of burn and time of burn if possible
  6. Disclosure of any public roadway within 1000ft. of the proposed burn.

Once a permit holder has contacted the Sheriff’s Dispatch Center and provided the appropriate information to them, they may proceed with the burn as long as the burn can be completed in a safe and prudent manner.

  • When the burn is completed, the Sheriff’s Dispatch Center shall be called and advised that the burn is complete. The burn shall not everbe left unattended.
  • Caution should be taken when burning around power poles, telephone pedestals, sign posts, and plastic gas line markers. All of these are expense to replace and only takes a few extra minutes to burn around and make sure you do not cause any damage. You can and may be charged for damages your fire occurs!

EMERGENCY

If you believe the fire is getting out of control, call 911. Provide the dispatcher with the following information:

  1. Name
  2. Location of the fire
  3. Contact number, for call back
  4. Provide any hazards that may be affected by the out of control fire.
  5. Any other information the dispatcher may request.

Upon arrival of the emergency units, provide them with the location of any structures, vehicles, or any other potential hazards.

  1. Let the firemen fight the fire.
  2. Seek medical attention if you are injured or hurt
  3. Do not follow the trucks (safety & accountability)
  4. Don’t leave the scene without telling the Fire Department

Permission to Burn Denied:

Your permission to burn may be denied for a variety of reasons. The goal of Pottawatomie County is not to interfere with safe burning, however historically numerous fires have been started with the best of intentions, and have developed into emergency situations resulting in loss of property, injury and in other areas even death.

Reasons for Denial

  1. Weather forecast (not only current, but for the day)
  2. Wind
  3. Foggy or very cloudy conditions
  4. Other burns out of control (no resources to respond)
  5. Any other unforeseen conditions

IF YOU DO NOT RECEIVE PERMISSION TO BURN, DO NOT BURN!
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Fire Supervisor Jared Barnes or Emergency Manager Jennifer Merrow at 785-457-3358. If you have been denied permission to burn and believe it is essential that you burn at this certain time, please contact the County Fire Supervisor in order to schedule an on-site inspection.

Your burn permit may be revoked for misuse and/or being noncompliant.

Jared Barnes
jbarnes@pottcounty.org
Fire Supervisor Pottawatomie County
785-457-3358