Education, Outreach & Fire Safety

Community Connect is a free, secure and easy-to-use platform that lets you share critical information about your household or business to aid first responders and emergency response personnel when they respond to your residence. By providing information about your household and business that you feel is important for us to know in an emergency, we can ensure you and everything you care about are protected to the best of our ability.

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The Minnesota State Fire Code requires a fire department lock box when access to a building or area is restricted by secure openings, or when immediate entry is needed for life-saving or firefighting purposes. For additional information on requirements, contact the Fire Marshal’s Office at 507-328-2056 or firemarshalsoffice@rochestermn.gov.

Commercial & Multi-Family

The Rochester Fire Department requires lock boxes for the following to have a Fire Department Lock Box: 

• All commercial buildings
• All multi-family buildings

Some large, complex buildings may require multiple boxes.

Boxes can be purchased through the Knox Rapid Access System website.

Residential Lock Box (Home-Box)

The primary intent of a lock box program is to facilitate quick access to residential homes during emergencies. Lock boxes allow fire personnel to expedite entry into a residence using a key rather than forcing entry through a door or window. These are primarily used during medical emergencies.

Home boxes can be purchased through the Knox Rapid Access System website.

Once installed, or if you already have a lock box on your property and need to add or change the keys, please contact us at 507-328-2056. 

Open Burning is prohibited within the Rochester City Limits unless approval has been granted by special Fire Department Permit. MSFC 105.6.32 Recreational Fires are permitted within Rochester City Limits in accordance with Rochester Code of Ordinances Chapter 141; Minnesota State Statute 88.16, 88.17, 88.22 and Rochester Fire Code Section 307.4.2, and 307.5.

Definition

Recreational Fires

The burning of materials other than rubbish, contained in an outdoor fireplace, barbecue grill or pit, with a fuel area three feet or less in diameter, with flames two feet or less in height, for pleasure, religious, ceremonial, cooking or other similar purpose. 

Recreational fires shall be conducted in accordance with the Following:

The purpose of the fire must be recreational and not to dispose of refuse, household waste, leaves, brush, trees, or construction materials. The fuel may only be charcoal or dry firewood, cut for that purpose. RCO 8-2-2 (c)  The fire must not be greater than three (3) feet in diameter and shall not be conducted within 25 feet of a structure or other objects that may be susceptible to damage from heat or flames.  Conditions which may cause the fire to spread to within 25 feet* of a structure shall be eliminated prior to ignition. RFC 307.4.2. 

• An approved barbecue grill or an outdoor fireplace with a spark arrester, designed, built and marketed specifically for outdoor cooking. These appliances must be used in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations.
• An approved barbecue pit or ring not larger than 36 inches in diameter or an area of 9 square feet, constructed of noncombustible materials. It must provide a 12 inch minimum enclosure depth above materials to be burned.

*The distance may be reduced to 15' if the fire is contained within an approved manufactured fire pit or outdoor fireplace designed for outdoor recreational fires.

Burning of leaves, sticks and tree branches is not allowed in Rochester, unless a special permit is granted. This includes the wood from your last building project or the tree that fell down last summer. To receive a special permit, contact the Rochester Fire Department at (507) 328-2800 or submit an online application.

• City of Rochester Fire Department Open Burn Policy
• Department of Natural Resources (for outside Rochester City limits)

• Keep it small: less than 3 ft. diameter is the rule
• Best location is 25 ft. away from any house
• Grills or barbeque pits can be 15 ft. from any house
• Have water on hand, just in case. Have a bucket with water handy to douse wandering flames
• When you're gone, put it out. Unattended fires are dangerous.