Grand Island Fire Department Announces Spring Restrictive/Open Burn Period

Grand Island, Neb. — The Grand Island Fire Department has announced guidelines for the 2026 spring open burn period, which is set to run from Sunday, April 19 through Saturday, May 2, between the hours of 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.

Permits for the restrictive burn period will be available beginning Tuesday, April 15 through Friday, May 1, from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. at Fire Station #1, which is located 409 E. Fonner Park Road. A $10 permit is required for all open burning. Residents who burn without a permit will be subject to a fine.

Open burning is limited to properties occupied by owners or residents of private one- and two-family dwellings. Commercial properties are not permitted to participate. Only materials indigenous to the property may be burned, including leaves, tree branches, limbs and garden waste. Transporting materials from another property for burning is also a violation of state statute.

All burns must comply with setback requirements. Fires larger than three feet in diameter or two feet in height must be located at least 50 feet from any structure or combustible material. Smaller fires must be at least 25 feet away unless contained within an approved burning appliance or barrel equipped with a one-half inch wire mesh screen, in which case the minimum distance is 15 feet.

Burning is not allowed when wind speeds reach 15 miles per hour or greater. The Fire Department may also suspend burning if weather conditions become hot, dry or windy. Updates will be provided by GIFD if conditions merit a suspension. Residents with questions about daily conditions may call (308) 385-5300 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, or (308) 379-9912 after hours and on weekends.

Open burning is prohibited in public streets, alleys and city right-of-way areas. Fires must also be constantly attended by an adult until fully extinguished, and a water source or other extinguishing equipment must be readily available. The open burn period is held twice annually, beginning the third Sunday in April and the second Sunday in October, each lasting 14 days.

Additional details can be found in City Code §16-11 at www.grand-island.com/citycode. Residents may also contact the Grand Island Fire Department at 308-385-5450 or visit any fire station for more information. A burn brochure is available online at www.gifire.org/openburn.

As an alternative to burning, the City’s transfer station accepts leaves, branches and yard waste at no cost. The Fire Department encourages residents to utilize this option when possible. For more information, please contact Grand Island Communications Manager Spencer Schubert at [email protected].