Berlin’s outdoor burning policy returned to the council agenda last week as officials try to maintain town safety while acknowledging the needs of large property owners, who require special considerations for disposing of yard and storm debris.
Under a proposed code amendment discussed at last Monday’s Town Council meeting, open burns could be permitted on properties of more than five contiguous acres, provided they meet specific criteria.
The proposed policy revision would limit owners of these large parcels to one open burn per year and require them to notify the Town of Berlin of their intent at least 48 hours in advance. Landowners must also receive approval from the Worcester County Fire Marshal before ignition.
Additionally, the fire must be attended at all times, means of extinguishing the flames must be readily available, and the burn location must be at least 200 feet from any habitable structure. Landowners must also provide alternative dates in case weather conditions on the scheduled day are not conducive to burning.
The Town of Berlin has been working to tighten its outdoor burning ordinance for the past few months. A public hearing on a previous policy draft was held during the Aug. 24 council meeting, which included updated language explicitly prohibiting open burning within municipal limits.