Fires, Fire Pits, and Grills

General Policies

• Possession and/or use of grills, electric grills, camp stoves, and portable or erected fire pits are prohibited on or in campus property. 
• Approved fireplaces with prior approval from Events Management, the Middlebury Fire Department, and the Office of Environmental Health, Safety, and Compliance are exempt from this policy. 
• Grills used by approved caterers are exempt from this policy.
• Lighting a fire, including possession of or use of a grill, without an authorized fire permit, inside or outside of buildings, other than smoking in authorized outdoor spaces, is prohibited.
• Outdoor fires may be approved for the Atwater Dining outdoor fireplace and The Knoll (Organic Farm) in Cornwall. Outside burning in other locations requires advance review and approval from Middlebury College and the Town of Middlebury. The location must be reserved, and Middlebury College Burn Permit approvals must be obtained in advance of the event.

Fire Pits

In the event there is a last-minute significant change in weather, State of Vermont Fire Danger Rating, or other circumstances that increase risks to safety, you may be informed that the fire-related aspect of your event will be canceled. Please be prepared to pivot your event activities if needed. Burn permits are typically approved one business day before an event, unless the event is scheduled for a Sunday or Monday. 

• For events that include the use of a fire pit, a burn permit must be completed and signed by Environmental Health and Safety/Public Safety and Facilities Services at least seven business days before the event.
• Event hosts are required to pick up and return the necessary fire kit materials (bucket, shovel, and fire extinguisher) from the Service Building Customer Service Center between 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
• Event hosts are responsible for providing their firewood. Facilities Services cannot provide firewood for events.
• A trained crowd manager must be present for the entire event involving a fire pit.
• For events at the Atwater fire pit, coals and ash must be placed in the fire bucket, and the bucket should be placed in the fire pit. Facilities will dispose of the ashes. Note: The Atwater fire pit is not available for events during the summer.
• The fire extinguisher must be returned to Facilities Services within 48 hours of the event.