This is defined as burning clean, dry, cord type firewood as in a standard campfire setting. Burning things like trees, brush, residual crop vegetation, fertilizer bags, wood chips used for livestock bedding, bailing twine, even garbage can be a regular part of operating a farm. A few general safety tips for fire pit use include: Always extinguish a fire before leaving it unaccompanied. The fire must be less than 3 feet in diameter with pile less than 2 feet in height. Enforcement of a nuisance condition caused by a recreational, leaf burning, cooking or space-heating fire that does not require a County license is regulated by the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE). Anne Arundel County Department of Health Ive included examples from several official agencies that define open burning and the regulations that pertain to this type of open burning to clarify whether some types of open burning are allowed, and under what conditions the activity is legal. Only burn seasoned, dry wood, which burns hotter and cleaner. Before lighting the fire, check the air quality forecast and verify it is a green burn day. A Stage 1 Burn Ban prohibits the use of all fireplaces and uncertified wood stoves and inserts. Please click here to see any active alerts. The open burning license will list any specific restrictions that apply to the open burn. For a fire pit to be acceptable for your backyard, it needs a fuel area under 3 in diameter and 2 in height. Natural gas and LP grills and pits need ten feet of free space. *Additional charges may apply. PDF open burning rules Space Heating Fires. All other times: Report smoke complaints and illegal burning activities directly with DEQ by using their online complaint form. Recreational fires are limited to 1 cubic yard or less of clean, natural wood. Leaf Burning Fires. It also applies to material that can cause uncontained ember release. A fire in a burn barrel creates toxic smoke that stays low to the ground. The definition of open burning includes burning any materials that release contaminants into the air directly versus passing the vapors through a chimney or a stack.