How to obtain a permit for outdoor burning:

Campton-Thornton Fire Rescue is pleased to announce that we are part of a trial in conjunction with NH Forests and Lands, and we are now able to offer online fire permits to residents of Campton, Ellsworth and Thornton. The system was designed by the same company that designed the online NH Hunting and Fishing licenses. There is a $5.50 fee, that is assessed by the designing company as part of an agreement with the state in exchange for designing and implementing the permit program at no charge to the State of NH. The State of NH does not charge for permits and therefore does not receive any of the $5.50 fee. For questions or concerns please feel free to contact the Station at 726-3300.Click the link to fill out the form: https://nhdflweb.sovsportsnet.net/

Call Campton-Thornton Fire Rescue at 726-3300 or stop by the Rt. 49 Station for a burn permit.

Permit to Install and Operate Oil Burning Equipment - NH RSA 153:5
In accordance with NH RSA 153:5, Campton-Thornton Fire Rescue issues permits for the installation and operation of oil burning appliances. Any installation or replacement of an oil burning appliance or fuel tank, requires an inspection prior to operation of the oil burning equipment.

Permit to Operate a Place of Assembly - 

NH RSA 155:17-39
Any person who owns or operates a place of assembly for 100 or more persons and/or any tent occupied by 50 or more people must obtain a place of assembly permit from the local fire department.

Outside Fire Burning Permit - NH RSA 227-L:17
Outdoor burning (cooking or camp fires, brush piles, leaves) is regulated by the State of NH Fire Marshall and the NH Division of Forests and Lands. A permit is needed for any outside burning. Permits can be obtained from the town forest fire warden, any deputy forest fire wardens or issuing agents, as well as online.

Permission – no person shall kindle a fire upon the land of another without written permission from the owner, agent or caretaker thereof.

Permits – No person, firm, or corporation shall kindle or cause to be kindled any fire or shall burn or cause to be burned any material, and no city or town shall kindle or maintain a fire on a public dump, except when the ground is covered with snow, without first obtaining a written permit from the forest fire warden of the town where the burning is to be done unless it is in the presence of the warden or the warden’s agent. The State Forester may make and adopt such reasonable rules and regulations as may be necessary to give effect to the provision, and he shall prepare all state permits issued by Forest Fire Wardens, or his agent.

Liability – Any person, firm or corporation causing or kindling a fire without a permit, when a permit is required, and also any person by whose negligence or the negligence of his agents any fire shall be caused, is liable to the town for all expenses incurred in attending or extinguishing such fire. Every person who shall set fire on any land that shall run upon the land of another, shall pay to the owner all damages done by such fire.

Category I Fire – means a small controlled fire, such as a camp or cooking fire, no greater than 2’ in diameter contained within a ring of fire resistive material or in a portable fireplace. A category I fire, conditions permitting, may be kindled with a permit at any time of day whether raining or not.

Category II Fire – means a small controlled fire, such as a camp or cooking fire, no greater than 4’ in diameter contained within a ring of fire resistive material or in a portable fireplace. A category II fire, conditions permitting, may only be kindled with a permit between the hours of 5:00 pm and 9:00 am unless it is actually raining.

Category III Fire – means any other fire, not a category I or category II fire or a fire greater than 4’ in diameter or a fire not contained within a ring of resistive material. A category III fire, conditions permitting, may only be kindled with a permit between the hours of 5:00 pm and 9:00 am or at times specific to the town in which you are burning or it is actually raining.

Category I or Category II Fires – When written permission has been obtained from the landowner, and a written permit from the Forest Fire Warden, or his agent, category I or category II fires may be kindled in fireplaces, at suitable times and in suitable places where they will not endanger woodlands. Category I and II fires must be kindled in an approved device or enclosed by a fire ring. Upon failure to totally extinguish such fires, the parties responsible are subject to the same liabilities and penalties as are prescribed for other fires.

Penalty – For kindling a fire in woodlands of another without written permission of the owner, or for kindling any fire without a written permit when a permit is required, a person may be guilty of a misdemeanor and fined up to $2,000.00, and/or imprisoned for a period of up to 1 year.

1. What materials can be burned with a permit?

Brush and wood cannot exceed 5 inches in diameter. No combustible domestic waste, treated wood or composite materials may be burned. RSA-125N defines “ combustible domestic waste” as, but not limited to, household trash, packaging materials, plastics, coated or laminated papers, rubber, painted or treated wood, coated or treated cardboard, oily rags, and animal, vegetable, and kitchen waste.

2. How close to a structure can I kindle my fire?

Fires must be at least 50’ from a structure for category II and III fires.

3. If I start my category ll or lll fire while it was raining and it stops raining do I need to extinguish the fire?

Yes! The fire must be extinguished and you will need to wait until 5pm to kindle it again.

4. Do you own the land where you plan to burn? 

 If not, you must have written landowner approval in order to obtain a fire permit or furnish proof that you are a legal agent for the landowner.

5. Do you have adequate resources to control and completely extinguish your fire?

The permittee shall have sufficient water, tools and personnel necessary to control and completely 

extinguish the fire. A buried fire is not an extinguished fire.

6. How old do I have to be in order to obtain a fire permit?

You must be at least 18 years old to obtain a fire permit.