While sitting around a campfire is cozy and an ancient tradition, this is an urbanized area. With more than a million people in Kentuckiana, there would be a significant amount of pollution produced if people could have open fires any time they wanted to do so. And with any fire, there’s the possibility of the fire getting out of control, risking lives, natural resources and property. For these reasons, open burning is generally prohibited in Louisville Metro / Jefferson County. Exceptions are described below. As defined in APCD Regulation 1.02, “open burning” means “the burning of any matter in such a manner that the products of combustion resulting from the burning are
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emitted directly into the outside air without passing through a stack, chimney, vent, or other functionally equivalent opening.” While burning a pile of leaves or having a bonfire for a party may seem harmless, any fire releases harmful materials. Emissions from fires include irritating particles (PM10 and PM2.5), toxic chemicals, carbon dioxide (a greenhouse gas), carbon monoxide, oxides of nitrogen and volatile organic compounds. The last two can form ground-level ozone, especially on sunny days. Burning garbage can produce much larger quantities of toxic materials, such as dioxins.
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These pollutants can:
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APCD Regulation 1.11: Control of Open Burning describes under what conditions open burning is or can be permitted in Louisville Metro / Jefferson County. Fires are also subject to approval from your local fire department. Other laws and regulations may also apply, depending on the circumstances.
Jefferson County and Metro Louisville residents may use this link for specific regulations in effect for Metro Louisville. You may also visit the Ky. Department of Forestry using this link for more information. |
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