TENNESSEE, USA — The Tennessee Department of Agriculture has announced that beginning on Oct. 15, a burn permit from the Division of Forestry (TDF) will be required for burning leaves or natural vegetation, including debris from Hurricane Helene.
Permits will only be issued when it is safe to burn, the TDA said. When conditions are unsafe due to hazardous conditions like high winds or extreme drought, TDF will temporarily pause burn permit issuing.
“Due to the vast amount of woody debris from Hurricane Helene and other recent storms across the state, we expect more outdoor burning than usual this year,” State Forester Heather Slayton said. “Since escaped debris burns are the leading cause of wildfires, it is important that Tennesseans take fire safety seriously."
Burn permits are free and can be obtained at www.BurnSafeTN.org or on the MyTN mobile app. Online permits are issued 7 days a week, 8 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.
The TDA says a permit should always be obtained on the day you intend to burn any size leaf, brush or debris pile and before conducting any prescribed fire. Each fire should be fully extinguished by the permit expiration date and should not be left unattended. Burning without a permit is a prosecutable Class C misdemeanor, the TDA says.
