Open Burning · St. Joseph Charter Township Fire Department

Important

A permit is permission, not a promise

Weather turns. Smoke settles. A pile burns bigger than it looked on paper. Even with a permit in hand, the Fire Chief or any firefighter on scene can order your fire put out — and you are required to do it.

Both ordinances say so: the township's Section 14-70 and the Village of Shoreham's burning ordinance, which names our firefighters among those who may put a fire out.

We use that authority when a fire becomes unsafe, when wind carries embers toward buildings, or when smoke is making life miserable for the neighborhood, filling a neighbor's home or making it hard for someone to breathe. It is nothing personal. Keep water and a way to smother the fire close by, so you can put it out quickly if we ask.

What's allowed

Two ordinances, and which one applies depends on where you live. St. Joseph Charter Township has its own rules, and so does the Village of Shoreham. They are not the same — Shoreham sets burning hours and a wind limit, and allows some yard rubbish the township does not. Today's burn status and our authority to order a fire out apply in both.

If you live in St. Joseph Charter Township

From Ordinance Chapter 14, Section 14-70.

No permit needed

Small recreational fires

Fire ring no more than 3 feet across and 2 feet high
At least 25 feet from buildings, fences, woodpiles, sheds, utility poles and roads
In a rear or side yard
Dry wood only, and someone watching it until it is cold

Permit required

Anything bigger than 3 feet

Brush piles and larger open fires
Permit issued by the Fire Chief or the Chief's designee
Ask before you build the pile, not after

How to get a permit →

Never allowed

Prohibited in the township

Leaves, trash, garbage and household or industrial refuse
Tires, asphalt and fiberglass roofing
Wood that is treated, painted, stained or coated

If you live in the Village of Shoreham

From the Village of Shoreham Burning Ordinance (2000).

Allowed

Campfires and bonfires

Tree branches, logs, kindling or wood chips only
Between 9:00 a.m. and 1:00 a.m., and no longer than 4 hours
Small enough for one adult to control, with a way to put it out fast
No heavy smoke or embers drifting onto neighboring property

Allowed, with limits

Burning yard rubbish

10 a.m.–6 p.m. Monday–Thursday, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Friday and Saturday
No burning on Sunday without a special use permit from the Village Council
At least 25 feet from any structure and 15 feet from lot lines, never on pavement
Never when wind is over 15 mph, or is expected to be
An adult stays with it the whole time

Never allowed

Prohibited in the village

Leaves, at any time
Garbage — food waste and food containers
Anything that smokes or smolders longer than 3 hours
Any fire giving off foul odors, or throwing sparks or embers onto nearby property

Village fines start at $25 and rise for repeat offenses, plus the cost of putting the fire out. Village code enforcement, township police and our firefighters can all enforce it.

Updated automatically

Can I burn today?

Open burning right now

Burning OK

Conditions are within safe limits. Fires larger than 3 feet need a permit.

Based on: Station #1 weather station and NWS fire weather forecast

This status updates on its own throughout the day from our weather station at Station #1 and the National Weather Service. Check it right before you light a fire.

What that means where you live

St. Joseph Charter Township

Burning OK

Conditions are within safe limits. Fires larger than 3 feet need a permit.
Recreational fires up to 3 feet are allowed. Anything larger needs a permit from the Fire Chief.

Ordinance Chapter 14, Section 14-70

Village of Shoreham

No burning right now

Yard rubbish: not at this hour. Today's window is 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Campfires and bonfires: not before 9 a.m.

Village of Shoreham Burning Ordinance

Weather is the same across the district; the rules are not. Whichever applies to you, our advice above is the minimum — and a firefighter can still ask you to put a fire out.

How the status is decided

Status	When
No burning	The Fire Chief has ordered a burn ban, or the National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Warning for our area.
Not recommended	A Fire Weather Watch is in effect, or wind is 10 mph or more, gusts reach 20 mph, or humidity is below 30%, measured at Station #1 or forecast for today, or lightning has struck within 10 miles in the last hour.
Burning OK	None of the above. Township rules still apply, and fires larger than 3 feet need a permit.

Today's fire weather

Today, Southern Berrien
Sky	Mostly sunny. Areas of frost until 1000.
Lowest humidity	35%
Wind	Northeast winds around 5 mph shifting to the west in the afternoon.
Smoke dispersal	Marginal

National Weather Service fire weather forecast, issued 3:25 AM Oct 17.

The rules in full

St. Joseph Charter Township, from Ordinance Section 14-70, Fires and burning. Village of Shoreham residents: your rules are in the Village Burning Ordinance, summarized above.

Recreational fires (fire pits, campfires): no permit needed if

The fire ring is no more than 3 feet across and 2 feet high.
It is at least 25 feet from buildings, structures and roads, including fences, woodpiles, sheds, outbuildings and utility poles.
It is in a rear or side yard.
You burn dry wood only.
Someone attends it at all times until it is completely out.

Never burn

Leaves, trash, garbage, household or industrial refuse, tires, asphalt or fiberglass roofing, or wood that is treated, painted, stained or coated (including creosote, Wolmanized or pressure-treated wood). Burning these is prohibited in the township.

The Fire Chief may order any fire put out when high wind or other conditions make it a hazard.

Burn permits

In the township, any fire larger than 3 feet requires a burn permit issued by the Fire Chief or the Chief's designee.

In the Village of Shoreham, the village ordinance has no burn permit — but burning on a Sunday needs a special use permit from the Village Council, and the hours and wind limits above always apply.

Request a burn permit
Tell us what and when you want to burn — township requests only. We will email you the decision, usually within a day or two.

Request a burn permit

Prefer email? info@sjctfd.org still reaches the Fire Chief directly.

Burn safely

Check the status above right before you light a fire.
Keep a hose or water and a shovel close by.
Never burn on windy days, and never leave a fire unattended.
Put the fire out completely, drowning and stirring the ashes, before you leave it.

More seasonal advice is on our Fire Safety page.