Fire Marshal Bill Halstead has extended the open burning season to May 15.

Normally, the open burning season concludes at the end of March, but when weather conditions allow, the season is extended.

Open burning permits, which are required for the activity, are issued at the fire marshal’s office at Newtown Municipal Center, 3 Primrose Street. Permits cost $5. Office hours for the fire marshal are 7 am to 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday.

After receiving a permit, permit holders must contact the town’s emergency dispatch center on the day of the scheduled open burning to learn if weather conditions allow such activity on that day.

Open burning permits are intended for the burning of brush only, whose trunk size is no larger than three inches in diameter. Open burning must be attended to at all times when burning is underway. Open burning is not allowed in wooded areas, and must be done at least 100 feet away from wooded areas, dried grass, and property lines.

On the day scheduled for open burning, winds must range from five to 15 miles per hour.

Permits will be canceled on days when the forest fire danger is listed as High, Very High, or Extreme, and also during high winds. Open burning areas must be extinguished by 5 pm on the day of the permit.

Prohibited is the open burning of cut trees, stumps, roots, leaves, grass, construction materials, and garbage.

The town inspects the site of planned open burning before that burning may occur. For details on open burning permits, contact the fire marshal’s office at 203-270-4370.