Emergency Management
Open Burning Regulations and Safety
On July 8, 2015, Home Rule Resolution No. HR-15-7-3 was passed by the Board of County Commissioners. This resolution changed the process of burn bans in unincorporated areas and was necessary to promote fire safety and to protect persons and property from the dangers of open burning. On March 29, 2017, Resolution No. HR 17-3-1 was passed incorporating recommended changes to the previous resolution. Whether or not burning is allowed or prohibited is now determined daily.
Burn Ban Criteria and Determination (Daily)
Burn bans are now determined daily. The Rangeland Fire Index is published daily online or individuals can call 785-832-5394 - the Douglas County Burn Hotline - after 8AM each morning.
Burning is strictly prohibited on days where the Rangeland Fire Index is measured at Very High or Extreme. A local determination may be made based upon the following variables:
- Local jurisdictional authority
- Rangeland Fire Index is high but the forecast is for sustained winds of greater than 15mph.
- Rangeland Fire Index is low or moderate, but the forecast is for sustained winds greater than 20mph.
- Resource limitation
- Local conditions of dryness
Burn Hotline (Get the Burn Status and Record Your Burn)
Douglas County has a burn hotline for those wishing to burn. Call 785-832-5394 to hear the current burn status and to record your burn with the Douglas County Dispatch Center (as required by the resolution).
Be prepared to share the following information when logging your burn:
- Location of the intended burn and the name, address and telephone number of the person responsible
- Duration and schedule of the burning
- Description of the proposed burn
Allowed Open Burning
Allowed open burning in the unincorporated areas of Douglas County is limited to the following:
- Agricultural open burning. The open burning of vegetation such as grass, woody species, crop residue, and other dry plant growth for the purpose of crop, range, pasture, wildlife or watershed management (this includes the burning of routine brush piles accumulated from the property). Brush, limbs, and other materials brought from offsite are not exempted from open burning regulations and shall not be burned
- Residential open burning. Open burning at a residential premise containing five or less dwelling units and incidental to the normal habitation of the units
- Ceremonial and cooking open burning. Open burning for cooking or ceremonial purposes on public or private land regularly used for recreational purposes. A ceremonial and cooking open burning fire shall not exceed five feet in diameter at its base. Ceremonial and cooking open burning fires that exceed this limitation require a permit granted pursuant to Section 6-107 of the Douglas County Resolution.
- Construction open burning. Open burning of clean wood from construction projects carried on at the construction site. Materials other than clean wood or materials brought from offsite are not exempted from open burning regulations and shall not be burned.