Open burning and outdoor wood boiler complaints

Wisconsin has limited restrictions at the state level on open burning of materials generated by households. Your local government may have more restrictions on open burning. If you have concerns or complaints about open burning or outdoor wood boilers, consider taking the following steps.

1. If the burning presents an immediate risk of escaping and becoming a wildfire, threatening safety or destroying property, call 911 immediately. If the burning is unattended, falls within DNR Protection Areas and has the potential to escape and become a wildfire, call a DNR fire control dispatch office.

2. Contact your local government (municipality or county) to find out whether there is an open burning, outdoor wood boiler or nuisance smoke ordinance that applies to your burning concern or complaint and the process to file a complaint.

• The DNR has a model ordinance to help Wisconsin counties, cities, villages and towns adopt their own local regulations on outdoor burning and burning of refuse.

3. Use the "Can I burn?" tool to find out whether the burn you have a concern or complaint about is prohibited by state law.

4. If the burn is prohibited by state law, file a complaint with the DNR Waste and Materials Management Program. Note that due to limited staff, the DNR is not able to respond to complaints about open burning of household waste. Submit the complaint online.

5. Consider contacting your local health department. They may have information about the health impacts of open burning and actions you can take to protect yourself.

6. If you are concerned about your neighbors' burning activity, you may want to speak with them to ensure they are aware of your concerns.