The Missouri Department of Natural Resources has approved the three-week period from November 4 to November 24, 2013 for open burning of dry yard waste. Here is a short summary of the laws regulating open burning:

Fires are allowed only between 10am and 3:30pm.

All fires must be in an upright container with a volume equal to no more than 55 gallons. A drum-size container of wire mesh (chicken wire) is permissible.

No fire can be within 15 feet of any building.

A responsible person must be present on the property (not necessarily at the fire, but on the property).

Yard waste (leaves, brush, and logs) only, no trash, paper, lumber, or building debris may be burned.

Firefighting material including a garden hose or a container of water sufficient to contain any fire started must be at the site of the fire.