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Burn Barrel Safety

A burn barrel looks tidy and contained, but embers escape, smoke can be harmful and many places restrict or ban the practice. Check local rules and consider alternatives first.

Are burn barrels allowed where I live?

Many states, counties and fire districts restrict or prohibit burn barrels, and some limit what may be burned. Air quality agencies may have separate rules. The rules vary and change.

Before using a barrel, call your local fire department, state environmental or forestry agency or county office and ask what is allowed. Do not assume that a barrel you have always used is legal now.

Some places also treat a burn barrel as open burning and apply the same permit and burn day rules to it. Confirm which category your barrel falls under.

• Ask about bans and permits
• Ask what you may burn
• Ask about air quality rules

Why can a burn barrel be hazardous?

Embers can lift out of the barrel and land on dry grass or roofs. Wind can carry them a long way. A fire that starts that way may be well away from the barrel before anyone notices.

Barrels also burn at lower temperatures and with less control than other methods, which can produce more smoke. Smoke from burning trash can contain harmful substances, and it can affect you, children, neighbors and animals.

Neighbors, children and animals downwind of a barrel breathe whatever it produces. People with asthma or heart conditions can be affected more strongly, so consider who lives nearby.

• Embers escape and travel
• Smoke may be harmful to breathe
• Control is limited

What should never go in a burn barrel?

Plastics, treated wood, tires, chemical containers, pesticide containers, batteries, aerosol cans and similar materials can release toxic smoke or explode. Follow the label and official guidance on disposing of pesticide containers, and ask the EPA or your state agriculture department about proper programs.

Never put anything in a barrel when you do not know what it is or how it burns.

Dispose of aerosol cans, paint, solvents and batteries through hazardous waste programs. Your county office or state environmental agency can tell you where and when.

• No plastics, tires or treated wood
• No chemical or pesticide containers
• No aerosols or batteries

How do I reduce the risk if I use one where allowed?

Place the barrel on bare ground or noncombustible material, well away from buildings, trees, vegetation and fuel. Use a cover made of metal screen where allowed to stop embers. Keep water and a hose or tools ready, and burn only in calm conditions.

Do not burn on dry or windy days. Never leave the barrel alone, and do not use accelerants.

A barrel that is rusted through or has holes can let embers and burning material escape. Replace damaged barrels instead of patching them, or stop using them.

• Clear area around the barrel
• Use calm conditions only
• Keep water ready

How should I handle ashes?

Ash and coals can stay hot for a long time. Let them cool completely, wet them down if official guidance advises it and store them in a metal container with a lid, away from buildings. Do not put ashes in a plastic bin or a cardboard box.

Follow local guidance for disposal.

Never dump ashes on dry ground, in a trash bin or near a building the same day. Ashes that seem cold can reignite when wind reaches them.

• Keep ashes in metal
• Store away from buildings
• Dispose as local rules say

What are better alternatives?

Many counties offer trash pickup, drop-off sites, recycling and hazardous waste days. Your county extension office or solid waste department can tell you what is available. Composting and chipping work for yard and plant material.

Alternatives take time to arrange, but they lower the risk of fire and smoke.

Even where burning is allowed, treat it as a last choice. A few minutes of planning for another disposal method can remove a real risk.

• Use trash and recycling services
• Use hazardous waste days for chemicals
• Compost or chip plant matter

What if the fire escapes or someone is hurt?

Call 911. If a person has been burned, follow the dispatcher's instructions and seek care from the official sources such as the Red Cross for first aid training. Do not use home remedies.

Afterward, review how it happened and stop using the barrel until you know the rules.

For anyone who inhales a lot of smoke and has trouble breathing, call 911 or your local poison center for guidance. See the official sites of the CDC and the Red Cross for general safety information.

Last reviewed: November 12, 2026. Written by the Farm Safety Editorial Team. See our editorial policy.