Fireworks and Campfires

The Auburn Fire Department receives numerous questions concerning the use of fireworks and recreational burning within the city limits of Auburn. Working with the Fire Marshalls office, we have come up with this information and present it in the hopes it will answer your questions. As always, we encourage you to enjoy these activities with the greatest possible caution to prevent property damage and injury to yourself and others. Should you have any additional questions, please contact the Fire Marshals office by calling 260.925.8240 or by e-mail by clicking here.

Fireworks

As with any other potentially dangerous activity, the Auburn Fire Department strongly encourages anyone using fireworks to read and follow all of the manufacturers instructions. In addition, we encourage you to follow the safety tips provided by the National Council on Fireworks Safety. You will find their website if you click here.

The question we are asked most about fireworks is 'Can you use fireworks in the City of Auburn?' The answer is yes you can, under certain conditions.

Consumer fireworks can legally be purchased and used within the City of Auburn. However, they can only be used on the following days and times:
   

                             Dates                                    Times 

               June 29th thru July 3rd                5:00pm - two hours after sunset
                            July 4th                         10:00am - 12:00 midnight
                July 5th thru July 9th                   5:00pm - two hours after sunset
        Labor day, and the Sunday before    10:00am - two hours after sunset
                      December 31                     10:00am - 1:00am on Jan. 1st

In addition to the above restrictions, you may only use fireworks on your own personal property and all users must be 18 years old or older or under close supervision of someone who is.

The use of fireworks is completely prohibited any day and time other than those listed above.

To view the complete City of Auburn Fireworks ordinance, click here.

To view a pamphlet created to help law enforcement with the details of the State of Indiana fireworks law, click here.
For a summary of the State of Indiana fireworks law, click here.
For a press release from the Auburn Fire Department concerning the use of fireworks, click here.

Recreational Burning

Probably the most frequently asked question is 'Can I burn in the city?'

The answer is a complicated mix of details but hopefully, we will answer your questions here.

You can burn in the city under certain conditions. Regardless of the type of fire you want to have, it is always illegal to burn anything other than natural wood products. In addition, by State of Indiana law, if your fire is deemed a nuisance, you will be asked to put it out. Should any person call either the Police or Fire Department with concerns about the fire or the smoke, it is considered a nuisance. With that in mind, we strongly encourage people to be considerate of your neighbors.
There are two general instances in which it is legal to have a fire within the city limits, recreational camp or bonfires and outdoor fireplaces.
     Recreational Camp Fires:
        You are permitted to have a campfire, bonfire or other type of recreational fire in the City of Auburn. In order to have this type of recreational fire, you are first required to contact the Auburn Fire Marshall for a permit. The is no charge for the permit. You will have to choose a site, fill out the permit, have the site inspected and wait for the permit to be issued. For this type of fire, because of the time required to complete the permit process, it is recommended that you start this process at least two weeks in advance of the day you want to burn. In addition, keep in mind that your site must be at least 50 feet from any building or other flammable materials and you will be required to have some type of extinguishing method(water, fire extinguisher) on site. For more information, please contact Fire Marshall David Bunn at 260.925.8241 or by e-mail at debunn@ci.auburn.in.us
    Outdoor Fireplaces:
        Due to the ever increasing popularity of outdoor fireplaces and chimineas, many people ask about the legal usage of these items in the city. Because of the portability of these items, they do not require a permit. However, they do have certain restrictions. As with any type of recreational fire, you are only permitted to burn natural wood products. These types of fires also fall under the nuisance rule in Indiana State Law. Should anyone complain about the smoke and/or flames from you fire, you will be required to extinguish it. In addition, any portable fireplace must have a mesh screen to cover any openings to prevent sparks and ash from floating into the air. When using this type of outdoor fireplace, it is recommended that you have some means of extinguishing the fire readily available in the event of a problem. We also urge you to read and follow all of the manufacturer's recomendations.