What can I burn with an online burn permit?

This system is for brush piles, wood debris and agricultural burns only. For campfire permits in organized towns, please contact the local fire dept. For campfire permits are authorized permit sites in the unorganized territories, contact the MFS Regional Headquarters (M - F between 8am and 4pm). Augusta 207-624-3700, Old Town 207-827-1800, Ashland 207-435-7963

When can I obtain an online burn permit?

Online burn permits are only available between 9am and midnight. This is because the daily fire danger rating comes out at 9am and burning is only allowed when the fire danger rating is either low or moderate. No burning is allowed when the fire danger rating is high, very high or extreme.

What if I desire to burn in the morning, before 9am?

If you want to burn early in the morning, before 9am, you will need to acquire your burn permit prior to midnight on the night before you burn. Then, at 9am, your permit expires. If you haven’t completed your burn, you will have to check the daily fire danger rating. If it is low or moderate, then you can acquire another online burn permit and continue your burn. At 9am, if the daily fire danger rating is high, very high or extreme, you will have to extinguish the fire and check the system on another day to see if burning is allowed.

How do I know when it’s safe to burn my brush pile?

Online Burn Permits are only valid on low fire danger days or moderate fire danger days. The daily fire danger rating is posted at 9am at www.mainefireweather.org. If the fire danger is high, online burn permits will not be issued. The permittee is responsible for checking the daily fire danger rating and could be summonsed if they are burning during high, very high or extreme fire danger.

I understand that fires become more active during the afternoon. What are the allowable burn times?

Please read your permit carefully and only burn during the times listed. If the daily fire danger rating is low, burning is allowed within a 24 hour period between 9am and 9am the following day. By law, your fire must be totally out before leaving it unattended. Although some Town Fire Wardens allow daytime burning on moderate fire danger days, the default setting for allowable burn times on moderate fire danger days is after 5:00pm.

How long are online burn permits valid?

Permits in organized towns are only valid during low to moderate fire danger rating days, after 9am the day the permit is acquired, to 9am the following day. Permits can’t be obtained in advance, but new permits can be acquired when the initial permit expires. This assumes the daily fire danger rating at 9am remains low or moderate. If the daily fire danger rating increases beyond moderate, the online burn permit system will not allow you to proceed and get another permit. This system does not allow burn permits on days with high, very high or extreme daily fire danger ratings.

When the daily fire danger rating is at “low” to “moderate” fire danger, burn permits for unorganized towns and certain plantations can be valid for up to four days. This is because of limited access to the internet in these remote areas, which is needed to acquire additional permits.

Extended permits are not available for those who desire to burn brush within organized towns. These areas should have internet access and can simply acquire another permit after 9am on the second day. If not, hand-written burn permits can be obtained from the local town fire warden.

Can I use this system for a campfire permit?

No, this system is currently only for brush pile burns. For campfire permits in the organized towns, please contact the local fire dept. Campfire permits for authorized permit sites in the unorganized townships can be obtained by calling the MFS Regional Headquarters (M - F between 8am and 4pm). Augusta 207-624-3700, Old Town 207-827-1800, Ashland 207-435-7963.