Executive Order  No. 68: (1st Series) Fire permit for open-air burning for agricultural purposes

WHEREAS, increased agricultural production is essential to the successful prosecution of the war; and

WHEREAS, the burning of grass lands and the disposal by burning of debris from farm and garden lands are factors in the preparation of such lands for the production of crops; and

WHEREAS, at present the exercise of the grant of a permit to set, maintain or increase a fire in the open air is restricted during the months of April and May to rainy days; and

WHEREAS, much of such materials cannot be burned on rainy days; and

WHEREAS, said restriction tends both to impede the preparation of farm and garden lands for their fullest utilization in the production of crops essential to the successful prosecution of the war and to create a fire hazard by causing a dangerous accumulation of debris:

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Leverett Saltonstall, Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, acting under the provisions of Acts of 1942, chapter 13, section 2 (3), (11) and (15), and section 3, and all other authority vested in me, do hereby issue this order as a measure necessary and expedient for meeting the supreme emergency of the existing state of war between the United States and certain foreign countries.

It shall be lawful for any person acting under a written permit therefor to set, maintain or increase a fire in the open air at such times during the months of April and May as may be specified in the said permit for the purpose of burning grass lands and debris from farm and garden lands in order to prepare such lands for the production of crops or in order to eliminate a fire hazard. Written permits covering a period not exceeding five days from the date thereof may be granted by the forest warden or chief of the fire department in cities and towns, or in cities having such an official, by the fire commissioner. Every such permit shall be subject to such conditions and restrictions as may be prescribed by the officer issuing the same, for the purpose of protecting life and property, and shall be revocable by the issuing officer at any time.

The authority conferred by this order shall be in addition to, and not in derogation of, the authority conferred by General Laws (Ter. Ed.), chapter 48, section 13, as amended by Acts of 1941, chapter 581.

No person who shall set, maintain or increase a fire in conformity with a permit issued pursuant to this order shall thereby be deemed to violate the provisions of General Laws (Ter. Ed.), chapter 48, section 13, as amended.

GIVEN at the Executive Chamber in Boston, this first day of May, in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and forty-four, and of the Independence of the United States of America, the one hundred and sixty-eighth.

By His Excellency the Governor,
LEVERETT SALTONSTALL.

PAUL D. HOWARD,
Deputy Secretary of the Commonwealth.