Open Burning- The Scottsboro Fire Department issues open burn permits for outside fires inside the City limits. Open burning is regulated by the City adopted versions of the International Fire Code, Alabama Department of Environmental Management Administrative Code, and City Ordinance #197. There is no charge for burn permits. Permits are issued over the phone daily and typically expire at the end of that day. Items that may be burned are brush, leaves, wood, paper, boxes, etc. All open burning inside the city limits is at the discretion of the Fire Chief. Local conditions such as wind or drought dictate the issuance of permits. Also, permits for large burns may have to be inspected prior to issuance. Small outdoor recreational fires (camp fires, outdoor fire pits, etc.) and cooking fires do not require a permit in advance. Anyone violating the burn ordinance by burning without a permit or burning prohibited items shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be punished by a fine not exceeding 200.00 Residents not inside the city limits should contact the Alabama Forestry Commission or call 1-800-392-5679 for information regarding burn permits.

Pre-Incident Planning Firefighters perform pre-plans for non-residential structures inside the city limits. On-duty fire crews visit the locations and document any special hazards and other information that may help in times of an emergency. They take building measurements, calculate the required amount of water in case of a fire, and note where utility disconnects are. They also note the number of potential occupants and document the available entrances and exits. Pre-plans are voluntary, but doing so can help fire crews save lives and property. If you would like to schedule a pre-plan for your business or organization, please give us an email (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) or call (256-574-2617).