Outdoor Burning Requirements

To ensure the safety of our community and reduce wildfire risk, the Rochester Volunteer Fire Company enforces the following outdoor burning requirements in accordance with Village Ordinance 3-11: “Outdoor and Refuse Burning”.

📘 View the full ordinance here: Village of Rochester Ordinance 3-11

✅ Weather Requirements to Allow Burning

  • Wind Speed: Sustained winds must be under 12 mph; gusts must not exceed 15 mph.
  • Relative Humidity: Must be above 30%.
  • Recent Precipitation: Ideally at least 0.25” of rainfall within the past 48–72 hours.
  • Vegetation Moisture: No burning when fuels (grass, leaves, brush) are dry or brittle.
  • DNR Fire Danger Rating: Burning is prohibited during “High,” “Very High,” or “Extreme” fire danger days. Only permitted on “Low” or “Moderate” days.
  • Air Quality Conditions: No burning allowed during DNR-issued air quality alerts (e.g., ozone action days).

⚠️ Considerations

  • 12 mph sustained winds can easily spread embers 10–30 feet or more.
  • If conditions are dry or humidity is low, this significantly increases fire risk.
  • Areas surrounded by dry brush, fields, or wooded lots should use more caution. A safer cap would be 10 mph sustained.

🕒 Burning Hours

Open Burning (yard waste, brush, etc.):
⏰ Allowed between 8:00 AM and 7:00 PM

Recreational Fires (fire pits, outdoor fireplaces):
⏰ Allowed between 7:00 PM and 11:00 PM
🔥 Must be fully extinguished by 1:00 AM the following day

🚒 Local Requirements

  1. 🔔 Notify Racine County Dispatch prior to starting any open (non-recreational) burn:
    📞 (262) 886-2300
  2. 💧 Have a charged garden hose, shovel, or fire extinguisher on site.
  3. 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Fires must be attended by a responsible adult at all times.

Failure to comply may result in extinguishment by the fire department and citation under Village Ordinance 3-11.

Thank you for burning responsibly and helping to keep our community safe.