Bonfire Policy

Anyone wishing to conduct a bonfire or campfire must follow the below procedures. Conducting a live fire event on campus constitutes following the Guilford College policies and procedures, the State of North Carolina Fire Prevention Code, the City of Greensboro Fire Ordinance and Guilford County Environmental Health policies.

Step 1: You must reserve the 'burn pit' through Conferences and Events at least 5 days before the event. The only area on campus to conduct a bonfire/campfire is at the ‘burn pit’ located next to the lake (off Nathan Hunt Rd.). No burning is permitted at any other location on campus. This is an illegal burn and penalties and fines will result to those responsible.  If the reservation is approved, Conferences and Events will contact Grounds and Landscaping and the Office of Public Safety.

Step 2: You must have a permit to burn before conducting your bonfire/campfire.

Step 3: Once your reservation is approved, go to the Office of Public Safety and apply for a burn permit. The information required on this form includes the signature of the responsible party who will hold the permit during the entire event, and the date, start and end times of the fire. The burn permit will have strict information you must follow during the fire event.

Step 4: The Office of Public Safety will fax the permit to the City of Greensboro Fire Prevention Office. If approved by the fire inspector, his/her office will fax it back to the Office of Public Safety. This process may take (2) days.

Step 5: You will be contacted by the Office of Public Safety once the permit has been approved and you will need to pick up a copy of the permit from the office prior to your event. You must have this permit with you during the fire event. In addition, the Office of Public Safety will notify Grounds and Landscaping of the approved permit.

Step 6: Groups must provide their own starter fire-log that can be purchased from nearby grocery stores. Grounds and Landscaping will provide wood pallets; these will be located behind the Information Desk to pick up 30 minutes before the burn.  A bucket for water should be checked out and returned at the Information Desk.   

Step 7: Safety to life and property must prevail before, during and after the fire event. At the end of the fire event, the responsible person holding the permit must assure the complete extinguishment of the fire.

Note: A permit to burn may be canceled for various reasons. This includes but not limited to:

1. Weather conditions (extremely dry conditions and/or windy conditions). The City of Greensboro Fire Marshal’s Office will issue a ban on burning. However, if the on-set of these events occur very rapidly (with little to no prior notice) the college reserves the right to cancel the fire event.

2. Air quality. Guilford County Environmental Health may cancel all burn permits due to expected high ozone levels. Burning is permissible during level green and level yellow days only. Environmental Health issues a 2-3 day air quality level forecast in advance. Conditions may change rapidly. Therefore, the college reserves the right to cancel fire events if necessary.

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