Several times throughout the year, we receive calls for open burns. Most residents call the fire station in advance of lighting outdoor fires to give us their information. This is an excellent idea. If someone would call 911 and advise the dispatcher that they see smoke in an area, it may save you some embarrassment of having several fire trucks arrive on the scene of your hog roast or neighborhood gathering.

Your Bloom Township fire department follows guidelines set forth by the EPA for open burning. These guidelines include answers to many frequently asked questions. What materials can never be burned? Where is burning illegal? What types of open burning are legal?

If you would like to burn in Bloom Township, the fire department will not issue you a permit. We will, however, advise you of the EPA guidelines and acknowledge your call with our dispatch center.

Regardless of whether you call the fire department or not, if we receive a complaint by a passer-by or neighbor, we must act and extinguish your open burn. This may seem unfair to the homeowner burning but several studies have shown the health risk of open burning, especially to those with predisposed respiratory illnesses.

If you burn illegally in Bloom Township or any other area in Ohio, you may be cited and/or fined by the EPA.