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Open Burn Permits are now Available Online to Residents in Southern Maine Municipalities and all Unorganized Territories

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Bill Williams, Director, Maine Forest Service
Telephone: 207-287-4991

AUGUSTA, Maine, July 8, 2005 - Obtaining an open burn permit to burn grass, leaves, brush and other allowable products/materials just got a whole lot easier with the new online open burn permit application from the Maine Forest Service. Today, individuals from eligible Southern Maine towns and all Unorganized Territories can obtain an open burn permit 24 hours a day/ 7 days a week by visiting this new online service at http:// www.maine.gov/burnpermit/.

Users who wish to purchase a burn permit online simply select the type and size of burn and enter their individual contact information. With safety as a primary objective, the online application then lets the user know the items that will be required at the burn, for example, water hoses and shovels. Once the user submits the required information, he or she can print the burn permit right from their home or office. There is a $7.00 fee to obtain an open burn permit online, payable with a credit card. Town wardens and their deputies will be notified when permits are issued in their municipality.

"We believe we have accomplished two important goals with this service," commented Bill Williams, Director of the Maine Forest Service. "First, we have made the process of obtaining a burn permit more accessible for Maine's citizens. Second, we have maintained the required safety standards by giving Town Wardens and deputies immediate notification when a permit is issued."

Each year, more than 200,000 burning permits are issued in the State of Maine. Online open burn permits will be issued during class 1 (low) and class 2 (moderate) fire danger level days. Permits will be required to be conducted after 5:00 p.m. and before 9:00 a.m., unless it is raining. The Maine Forest Service strongly suggests all open burning be conducted between these hours when winds and temperatures are generally at lower levels, making for safer burning conditions. Historically in Maine, 95% of all escaped debris fires have occurred after 9:00 a.m. and before 5:00 p.m. Online permits are good for 48 hours from time of issue. To obtain a permit online please visit: http://www.maine.gov/burnpermit/ .

For more information regarding the Maine Forest Service, please visit: http://www.maine.gov/doc/mfs/mfshome.htm

Maine's Open Burn Permit Application is a service of the Maine Forest Service, in partnership with InforME, the State of Maine's private-sector partner and official web portal provider. All online services and official State of Maine web pages can be accessed from the state portal: http://www.Maine.gov

About Maine.gov:

Maine.gov is the official Web portal of the state of Maine (http://www.maine.gov ) and is the winner of the Center for Digital Government's 2004 Best of the Web competition. Maine.gov is a service of the Information Resource of Maine (InforME), a collaborative effort between the state of Maine and New England Interactive, LLC that helps Maine government entities Web-enable their information services. Maine.gov was built and is marketed, operated, and maintained by New England Interactive, LLC.