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Durham Fire Marshal proposes tighter blasting permit rules and public notification tools
Summary
The County’s Interim Fire Marshal proposed raising blast‑mat notification distance to 750 feet, shortening permit review from 90 to 30 days, requiring pre‑blast surveys be shared on request and adding a public map and Facebook notifications; the board asked for scientific method details and better resident notice protocols.
Tyler Fitts, Interim Chief Fire Marshal in Durham County’s Office of Emergency Services, presented proposed changes to the county’s blasting permit application process at the Nov. 4 work session.
Fitts said the county has increased the required distance for blasting mats from 500 to 750 feet and added a permit application requirement for a property list of parcels within 750 feet of a blast site. The permit review window was shortened from 90 days to 30 days to allow more timely oversight. The application will require that residents or property owners be provided copies of pre‑blast surveys and photos within 10 business days of a request.
Staff also added a fee schedule and deployed a public facing map on the County website so residents can search active blast permits within 1,000 feet of their property and the County established a notification feed on its Facebook page for new approved permits. Future steps outlined include coordination with Environmental Health on well‑water impacts and continued work with the County Legal Department; Fitts anticipated finalizing the updated application by Feb. 1, 2025.
Board directives included ensuring City of Durham permit standards align with county standards, providing more detail on the scientific method used to determine blast geographic range, and developing timely resident notification procedures and guidance on residents’ options for protection.
