Bennington Fire & Rescue Burn Permits

Bennington Fire & Rescue, and/or the District assume no liability in the event of injury or property damage resulting from the issuance of this permit to burn. Failure to follow the rules below may lead to a revocation of this permit. On-site inspection may be conducted at any time by an authorized member of Bennington Fire & Rescue. 

Rules Governing Burning

1. Fire shall not be fueled. Use of tires, gasoline, oils, solvents, etc. to start or accelerate the fire is forbidden. 

2. Fire must be attended at all times, with sufficient means of extinguishment at hand to control burning. 

3. Fire is to be completely extinguished by dark. 

4. Logs, brush or other said materials must be covered with earth so burning embers are not visible after dark. 

5. There will be no burning when winds exceed 15 M.P.H. or when smoke from the fire interferes with highway travel or neighbours.

6. A new permit must be obtained for an alternate date. 

7. The following agency shall be notified before the fire is started and upon extinguishment: Douglas County Sheriff - 402-444-5706

8. The volume of material to be burned shall be limited to the ability of the individual to comply with the above-stated rules. 

9. Approval of the present request may not apply to future situations. 

10. Failure to comply with the above rules may lead to the issuance of the misdemeanour citation by the Douglas County Sheriff. 

81-620.01. Statewide Open Burning Ban; Waiver; Permit. 

(1) There shall be a statewide open burning ban on all bonfires, outdoor rubbish fires and fire for the purpose of clearing land. 

(2) The fire chief of a local fire department or his/her designee may waive an open burning ban under subsection (1) of this section for an area under his/her jurisdiction by issuing an open burning permit to a person requesting permission to conduct open burning. The permit issued by the fire chief or his/her designee to a person desiring to conduct open burning shall be in writing, signed by the fire chief or his/her designee, and on a form prescribed by the State Fire Marshal. The State Fire Marshal shall provide local fire departments with such forms. 

(3) The fire chief of a local fire department or his/her designee may waive the open burning ban in his/her jurisdiction when conditions are acceptable to the Chief or his/her designee. Anyone burning in such jurisdiction when the open burning has been waived shall notify the fire department of his/her intention to burn. 

(4) The fire chief of a local fire department may adopt and promulgate rules and regulations listing the conditions acceptable for issuing a permit to conduct open burning under subsection (2) of this section. 

(5) The local fire department may charge a fee, not to exceed ten dollars, for each such permit issued. This fee shall be remitted to the governing body for inclusion in the general funds allocated to the fire department. Such funds shall not reduce the tax requirements for the fire department. No such fee shall be collected from any state or political subdivision to which such a permit is issued to conduct open burning under subsection (2) of this section in the course of such state's or political subdivision's official duties. 

Source: Law 1960, LB810, 2; Laws 1982, LB790,1. 

81-520.02 Open burning ban; violation; penalty.

Any person violating the statewide open burning ban established by Section 81-520.01 or violating sections 3 to 5 of this act shall be guilty of a Class IV misdemeanour. 

Source: Laws 1980, LB810, 3.