Vermont’s Act 162 took effect July 1, making each town’s fire chief the local forest fire warden. Under the new law, residents must obtain burn permits directly from a fire chief or an appointed deputy, rather than from state-appointed wardens.
In Hardwick, Fire Chief Perley Allen serves as primary forest fire warden. Deputies Charles Bartlett and Douglas Casavant are also authorized to issue permits. Contact numbers: Allen at (802) 917-4806, Bartlett at (802) 917-1901, and Casavant at (802) 917-2156.
State regulations permit only clean, natural wood or brush to be burned. Burning treated wood, trash, plastic, or tires is illegal everywhere in Vermont. Campfires under 36 inches in diameter and located more than 200 feet from dry grass and forests generally do not require a permit, but can be restricted during dry conditions.
A fire chief or deputy must verbally approve the burn and issue a written permit. Burning without a permit is illegal. Residents are advised to check the Vermont Fire Danger Forecast and state open-burning rules before lighting any fire, as sudden high winds or dry spells may trigger state-issued burn bans.
NEK will be looking into how other towns in the region are implementing the new warden system and whether any have faced challenges adapting.
Originally reported by Hardwick Gazette.
Photo: Christian Lendl via Unsplash. Photo is illustrative and not from the scene.
Log in as a subscriber to comment, or become a member.