What New England Residents Should Know About Burning Leaves

In the fall, when the leaves take over our yards, we do our very best here in New England to rake them up and clean before the winter snow falls.

What do you do with the leaf piles once they are gathered? Many people burn them since just pushing the piles to another part of the yard isn't a great idea for the long term. (I'm talking to you, Husband-of-Mine) Burning is an option, but if you don't follow the rules, you could be in big trouble.

What Do I Need to Know About Leaf Pile Burns?

Here are some of the rules you need to be aware of before you burn a leaf pile:

If you are planning on burning your leaf pile on someone else's land, you must get permission from the land owner.
You must get a permit to burn from the Forest Fire Warden of the town where the burning is going to be done.
Your burn must be in a suitable place as to not endanger the surrounding woods
You have to extinguish all remains of the fire before you leave the area

There are other rules, however, if you don't follow them, according to the General Court of New Hampshire, under the Title XIX-A, Chapter 227-L, "Woodland Fire Control;"

Any person violating any provision of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and any person who causes or kindles a fire by any means, willfully or recklessly, which shall endanger a woodland shall be guilty of a misdemeanor if a natural person, or guilty of a felony if any other person.

Did you read that? If you violate the rules, you will be guilty of a misdemeanor or worse yet, a felony depending on what you are doing.

Common misdemeanor charges vary from town to town and state to state, but according to russmanlaw.com, the charges may be up to $2,000.

A felony charge is much more serious. Not only will you be charged with fines, but you could face serious jail time.

So, what have we learned? Follow the rules before you burn that leaf pile, Bub.