Burn permits now required
Closed fire season in Idaho begins May 10 and extends through Oct. 20 each year.
By Idaho law (38-115) any person living outside city limits anywhere in Idaho, who plans to burn for any reason — including the use of burn barrels and crop residue burning — during closed fire season, must obtain a fire safety burn permit. Permits are not needed for recreational campfires.
The fire safety burn permit is free of charge and good for 10 days after it is issued.
The permit can be obtained online at BurnPermits.Idaho.Gov or at any Idaho Department of Lands (IDL) office.
The responsibility of issuing all fire safety burn permits statewide is under the purview of the IDL. Residents and growers in northern Idaho, generally are accustomed to obtaining the fire safety burn permit along with other necessary permits depending on where and what they plan to burn.
Many residents in southern Idaho — especially growers planning to burn fields - may not be aware of the law requiring the fire safety burn permit.
BurnPermits.Idaho.Gov provides tips for safe burning practices, information about fire restrictions and if additional permits are required from other entities. Contact information is provided for local jurisdictions and counties that may have other fire restrictions in place.
Additionally, before burning, all burners in Idaho must check with the respective tribe (if in reservation boundaries) or DEQ to ensure there are no air quality restrictions in place.
Acquiring a fire safety burn permit informs fire managers where burning activities are occurring, reducing the number of false runs to fires and saving firefighting resources for instances in which they are truly needed.
It also enables fire managers to respond more quickly to fires that escape, potentially reducing the liability of the burner if their fire escapes.
The permits also can be obtained in person at any IDL office in the state. Office locations are available on the IDL Website, http://www.idl.idaho.gov, by clicking “contact.”