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Fire marshal tightens blasting rules after resident concerns; pre‑blast surveys required and permit window cut to 30 days
Summary
Durham County's interim fire marshal reported several changes to the county's blasting permit process — including lengthening blasting-mat buffer from 500 ft to 750 ft, shortening permits from 90 to 30 days, requiring property lists and delivery of pre-blast survey reports on request — and published an online map of active permits.
The Durham County Office of Emergency Services presented updates to the county’s blasting-permit application that the office said respond to resident concerns about fly rock, well damage and lack of notice. Interim Chief Fire Marshal Fitz said the county raised the blasting-mat distance requirement from 500 feet to 750 feet, reduced permit terms from 90 days to 30 days to allow more oversight, and required applicants to include a property list of all parcels within 750 feet of a blasting site so inspectors can confirm pre‑blast surveys were offered.
Fitz said the updated application also requires the permit holder to provide a copy of any requested pre‑blast survey report, including photographs, to the property owner within 10 business days — and failure to deliver that report can lead to permit revocation. Staff pointed commissioners to a county/city web map that now plots active blasting permits and permits users to search active permits within 1,000 feet of a property. Commissioners pressed staff on notification methods and whether the county can require pre‑blast surveys be filed with the county; staff said requiring submissions is possible but will create a substantial document-management burden and suggested alternatives (Alert Durham notices, county mailings or contracted vendor notices) while continuing to explore options.
