North Carolina
Division of Air Quality
Open Burning
Air Quality Regional Offices
Winston-Salem
Raleigh
Asheville
Mooresville
Washington
Fayetteville
Wilmington
North Carolina Department of
Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)
Regional Offices
Asheville Regional Office
2090 US Hwy 70
Swannanoa, NC 28778
Phone: (828) 296-4500
Fax: (828) 299-7043
Fayetteville Regional Office
225 Green Street Suite 714
Fayetteville, NC 28301
Phone: (910) 433-3300
Fax: (910) 485-7467
Washington Regional Office
943 Washington Square Mall
Washington, NC 27889
Phone: (252) 946-6481
Fax: (252) 975-3716
Mooresville Regional Office
610 E. Center Avenue Suite 301
Mooresville, NC 28115
Phone: (704) 663-1699
Fax: (704) 663-7579
Wilmington Regional Office
127 Cardinal Drive Extension
Wilmington, NC 28405
Phone: (910) 796-7215
Fax: (910) 350-2004
Raleigh Regional Office
3800 Barrett Drive
Raleigh, NC 27609
Phone: (919) 791-4200
Fax: (919) 881-2261
Winston-Salem Regional Office
450 W. Hanes Mill Road, Suite 300
Winston-Salem, NC 27105
Phone: (336) 776-9800
Fax: (336) 776-9797
Local Environmental Programs
Buncombe County
Western NC Regional Air
Pollution Control Agency
49 Mount Carmel Road
Asheville, NC 28806
Phone: (828) 250-6777
Fax: (828) 255-5226
Forsyth County
Environmental Affairs Dept.
201 North Chestnut Street
Winston-Salem, NC 27101
Phone: (336) 703-2440
Fax: (336) 727-2777
Mecklenburg County
Mecklenburg County Air Quality
700 N. Tryon Street, Suite 205
Charlotte, NC 28202
Phone: (704) 336-5430
Fax: (704) 336-4391
Open Burning Rule

Protects environment and human health

One of NC’s oldest air quality rules - adopted in 1971

Regulates outdoor burning

Sets conditions for allowable fires

Violators can be fined up to $25,000 per violation or more
in serious cases
NC Forest Service

Responsible for protecting state and privately owned
forest land from forest fires

Forest fire prevention

Controlling wildfires

NCFS issues open burning permits

DAQ does not issue open burning permits
Local Government
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Local agencies and fire officials may have other ordinances
Local ordinances must be no less stringent than the state
regulation
Following one agency’s regulation does not guarantee
compliance with other agencies
Contact your local agencies prior to any open burning
Why Limit Open Burning?
 Smoke from open burning
pollutes the air and is
unhealthy to breathe
 Potential health effects include



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Lung and eye irritation
Headaches dizziness
Asthma attacks
Coughing and wheezing
 Air pollution can damage trees
and crops
Air Quality Forecast Areas
NC Air Quality Action Days
Action days occur when ozone or particle pollution is forecasted
to be higher than AQ standards.
On code orange, red, or purple days in air quality forecast areas
the following types of open burning are prohibited:
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Yard waste
Land clearing debris
Natural disaster material
Fire training at non-permanent training facilities
(i.e. houses)
DAQ recommends no burning throughout the rest of the region on code
orange, red, or purple days!
NC Air Quality Action Days
Exceptions to prohibited open burning on code orange, red, or
purple days
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Forest management practices
Agricultural practices
Wildlife management practices
Fire training at permanent training facilities
Practices must be acceptable to the North Carolina Forest Service,
Department of Agriculture, or Wildlife Management Commission
Air Quality Forecast
Check the forecast in your area before you burn!
Website: www.ncair.org
Phone: 1-888-784-6224
(1-888-RU4NCAIR)
Email: www.enviroflash.info
Forecast will come out at
3 p.m. on the day prior to
the forecasted day.
If It Doesn’t Grow, Don’t Burn It
It is always illegal to burn trash and other non-vegetative material
ALL Burning Is Prohibited
EXCEPT what is allowed in the rule.

What may be burned?
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Residential – vegetative yard wastes (only if public pick-up is not available)
Non-Residential – Nothing except land clearing debris
(businesses, schools, churches, etc)
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The burning must follow NC Air Quality Rules
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It is always illegal to burn trash and other non-vegetative material
 Businesses may never burn, except for land clearing debris
Other Allowable Burning

Campfires

Outdoor cooking
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Bonfires for festive occasions
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Managing forests or wildlife habitats
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Controlling agricultural pests and diseases

Disposing of storm debris from hurricanes and other natural
disasters (Requires DAQ prior approval)
Never Burn These Materials:

Trash, garbage
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Structures –
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Lumber and Pallets
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Asphalt shingles
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Treated wood
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Plastics, synthetics
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Tires
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Heavy oils
Newspapers and other
paper products
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Paints
Wire and coated wire
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standing or demolished
Household, agricultural
chemicals
Residential Yard Waste Burning
Residential Yard Waste Burning
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Must originate on a PRIVATE residence and be burned on that site
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If public pickup is NOT available
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Vegetative yard waste
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Must occur between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m.
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Air quality forecast - Code green or yellow
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No setback distances
Land Clearing Debris Burning
Land Clearing Debris Burning
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Only vegetative material such as logs, stumps and limbs
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May use kerosene or diesel fuel to start
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Start and add to the pile only between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m.
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Setback Requirements:
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250 feet from public road (Wind Direction – National Weather Service Forecast)
500 feet from occupied structure (not on burn site)
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Air Quality Forecast - Code Green or Yellow
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Every pile can be considered a separate violation
Why do we have setback requirements?
Where is this smoke going?
Setback requirements reduce impact on
surrounding areas.
Setback Exception
(500 feet distance waiver)
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Applies ONLY to open burning vegetative land clearing debris
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Allows open burning within 500 feet of occupied structures
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Requires DAQ prior approval
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Forms from DAQ website
Signatures of those w/in 500 ft
Maps
Air Curtain Burner
Air Curtain Burner Requirements
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Vegetative material only
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250 feet from public road
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300 feet from occupied structure (not on site)
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10% Opacity limit (excluding 45 minute start-up)
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Air quality forecast - Code green or yellow
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DAQ prior notification and approval required
Fire Fighter Training
Fire Fighter Training
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Training exercises at permanent fire training facilities
(Under supervision of colleges and fire academies/training
centers)
No DAQ notification or prior approval required
Fire Fighter Training
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Abandoned structures – Extinguish & rescue
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Junked vehicles – Extinguish & rescue
DAQ notification form & prior approval required
Impermissible Fire Training


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Salvageable items, such as insulated wire and electric
motors
If the primary purpose of the fire is to dispose of synthetic
materials or refuse.
Previously demolished or partially demolished structures
Fire Fighter Training Notification
Meet The Following Conditions

Notification – Regional office (10 days prior to burn – can FAX)
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Notification and approval – HHCU/Asbestos (Notification must
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be postmarked 10 working days prior to the start date. Faxes not
accepted)
Change schedule – Notify HHCU in writing prior to original
start date and Call DAQ regional office
Air quality forecast - Code green or yellow
Training Objective - Experience
Complaint Investigation Process
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DAQ receives complaint from:
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Citizens
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Other agencies (Fire Dept, NCFS, etc)
All complaints are investigated by:
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DAQ (phone, site visit)
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Other agencies
Complaints investigated by other agencies:
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Referral of information to DAQ
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DAQ may do site visit

DAQ addresses every complaint received
(depending on nature and severity of burn)
DAQ Enforcement

If a violation is documented, DAQ will:

Issue Notice of Violation
or
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Notice of Recommendation for Enforcement
 Civil Penalty Assessment (Up to $25,000 per violation which goes to
the county school system)
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If a violation cannot be documented, DAQ will:

Close case – may issue an open burning information letter
Breathe… Don’t Burn!
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Outdoor fires pollute
the air
Smoke is unhealthy to
breathe
Recycle or properly
dispose of waste
Open Burning Alternatives
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Compost yard waste
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Chip tree limbs

Land clearing debris
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Haul to sawmill or pulpwood yard
Chip or tub grind remaining material
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Recycle or re-use non-vegetative material
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Contact local solid waste facility
Contact N.C. Division of Environmental Assistance and Outreach
www.ncenvironmentalassistance.org
Or 1-877-623-6748
North Carolina Division of Air Quality
1-877-OPEN BURN
(1-877-673-6287)
www.ncair.org
North Carolina Department of Environment & Natural Resources