Burn Permit Application

Applicant Information

Burn Information

Rules and Regulations

1. The fire SHALL BE ATTENDED AT ALL TIMES with sufficient means on hand to control the burning, until the fire has completely burned out. Burned brush, logs or other solid materials must be covered with earth or thoroughly saturated with water before the attendant leaves the site.

2. NO building materials, treated lumber, railroad ties, plastic, tires, oil, pesticides, herbicides, hazardous waste, hazardous materials or household garbage shall be included in the fire at ANY time.

3. The fire(s) shall be at least 150 feet from your own building(s) and at least 300 feet from a neighbors building.

   
   

4. Open burning will NOT be permitted if the wind conditions exceed 15 mph, any such permit previously issued will be considered invalid if the wind exceeds 15 mph.

5. All fires shall not be lit before and shall be extinguished prior to the times stated by the officer issuing the permit.

   
   

6. An authorized representative of the Southeast Rural Fire Department may conduct on-site inspections at any time. Failure to follow these provisions governing the burning may lead to the revocation of this permit.

7. Any fire, which is allowed to get out of control and results in the summoning of the Southeast Rural Fire Department, is subject to possible legal action. The property owner and person supervising the burn accepts all financial responsibility for any cost incurred (including fire suppression costs) if the fire becomes out of control.

8. The fire may be extinguished by the Southeast Rural Fire Department regardless of whether a permit is issued if: (1) in the opinion of the officer, the conditions have changed and have become dangerous to allow an open fire to continue burning.; (2) if complaints are received regarding the fire or smoke; (3) if any of the above conditions of this permit have been violated.

** Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department 402-441-8040 may necessitate an additional permit for this burn **

Open Burn Permit

In accordance with State Statute 81-520.01 “(1) There shall be a statewide open burning ban on all bonfires, outdoor rubbish fires, and fires for the purpose of clearing land.”

Before any open burning is done, a permit must be obtained from the Chief of Southeast Fire Department, or a Fire Department Officer, on a form prescribed by the State Fire Marshal.

To obtain a burn permit there is no cost to the residents of the district.

Nebraska driver’s license is required to receive a burn permit.

In-Person Burn Permit Application:

Permits are issued to district residents in person each Tuesday night at the North Station, 8450 Eagle Crest Road, starting at 6:30 PM until 8:30 PM.

Online Burn Permit Application:

An online application form can be submitted via the official Southeast Fire Department website. If an application is submitted online and it is approved you will receive an email the following Tuesday by 11:59 hours with your official permit.

***Filling out an online burn permit application DOES NOT mean you are approved to conduct a burn. You MUST receive an offical burn permit prior to burning. Burning prior to receiving an offical burn permit will result in law enforcement action.***

In accordance with Nebraska Statute 81-520.02:

Open burning ban: range management burning; violations; penalty. Any person violating the statewide open burning ban established by section 81-520.01 or violating sections 81-520.03 to 81-520.05 shall be guilty of a Class IV misdemeanor.

Sources: Laws 1980, LB 810, 3; Laws 1989, LB 19, 1; Laws 1994, LB 408