Fire Department

Who We Are

The members of Bernardston Fire Department are your relatives, friends, and neighbors, all dedicated individuals who live and/or work in town and who have made a special commitment to our community’s safety and well being. In addition to responding to fires, medical calls, and vehicle accidents, it’s not unusual to see firefighters lending a hand at community celebrations and special events.

The department is governed by a Fire Chief, who reports to the Bernardston Selectboard. The Fire Chief, in turn, appoints the officers. All members follow the Chain of Command and a published set of Standard Operating Procedures and Standard Operating Guidelines. 

New members are screened by the department’s membership committee, submit to background checks, and serve a six-month probationary period before becoming full members. Members are certified in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and are trained as medical First Responders. Weekly training sessions help ensure that learning and preparation are ongoing and that equipment is ready when the pagers sound and it’s time to respond.

Burn Permits

Burn permits are available January 15 – May 1 between 8:30 AM and 1:00 PM, depending on weather conditions and subject to certain requirements. Residents of Bernardston and most other Franklin County communities can obtain a permit by calling the Franklin County Dispatcher (Shelburne Control) at (413) 625-8200.

The website lists the following regulations:

  • You may only burn BRUSH! All other materials are illegal. No leaves, grass, hay, stumps, building debris or any other materials are allowed to be burned.
  • All open burning must be a minimum of 75 feet from buildings or structures.
  • Burning will be allowed to start at 10:00am and must be extinguished by 4pm.
  • Any open fire must be attended at all times by the permit holder.
  • No person shall set, maintain or increase a fire in open air at any time except by permission.
  • You must be 18 years or older to apply for permit and/or set, maintain or increase fire once permission has been granted by the Fire Department.
  • You must have an appropriate means to extinguish an open air fire completely at the end of the day or if requested by the Fire Department.
  • The Fire Department can refuse or cancel a permit at any time. (Example: Violation of permit regulations, or change in weather conditions.)
  • Open burning season is January 15 – May 1.
  • Massachusetts Regulation 310 CMR: DEP 7.07 “Open Burning”
  • More information from the Massachusetts DEP.

Town of Bernardston

Selectboard: (413) 648-5401

Town Clerk: (413) 648-5408

Tax Collector: (413) 648-5410

Assessors: (413) 648-5407

Bernardston Town Hall

38 Church Street
PO Box 504
Bernardston, MA 01337

Selectboard Office Hours:
Mon.-Thurs. 8:30am-3:30pm