03/26/2026
Have you noticed an increase in smoke stacks throughout the area lately?
Now is the time farmers are going to be preparing their fields for harvesting by burning unwanted weeds and stubble, known as agricultural burning.
A few reminders as we enter into this fire season:
• Per county ordinance 385, a burn permit is required… yes even agricultural burns.
Failing to follow the guidelines that go along with this ordinance may result in a class B misdemeanor.
This includes but not limited to: absolutely no burning in a burn barrel, no burning of household items (Everyday garbage, Plastic materials, chemicals, etc.), no burning on Sundays, no burning the week of the county fair.
You must stay with the fire for the entirety of the burn and it must be out 1 hour before dark (with exception to a campfire in an approved container that is 15 feet from any structure), bonfires must be 50 feet from any structure.
To obtain a burn permit online you can search
BoxEldercountyut.gov once here click the 3 lines in the upper corner, navigate to Departments, Fire, and from there you may choose which permit you’d like to obtain.
• The clearing index must be above 500 to issue permits or to burn, even after a permit is obtained. The clearing index may change throughout the day and it is your job to make sure it is above 500 before you burn.
You can check this at weather.gov and search Utah clearing index.
• Open burn windows for residential burns are
March 30 - May 30 & Sept 15 - Oct 30.
• Don’t hesitate to call if you see a burn that seems out of control, or left unattended.
• Please be mindful of this start of agricultural season when calling into dispatch to report a controlled burn.