The Town of Hillsborough is considering creating two fire districts within the town.

Hillsborough’s primary fire district would cover the town’s core business center in downtown while the secondary district would cover all other areas within the town’s limits.

The establishment of two fire districts would help the Orange Rural Fire Department in future insurance ratings. The Town of Hillsborough contracts with Orange Rural for fire service.

The following restrictions would apply under the primary fire district:

• No open flame devices could be used inside a building or outside in a parking lot or other open space. Homeowners, however, would be allowed to use approved outdoor fireplaces.

• A sprinkler system would be required in all new construction — commercial and residential. Existing commercial buildings would be required to install a sprinkler system when a building’s square footage or occupancy increases. Existing single-family dwellings would be required to install a sprinkler system if a dwelling increases more than 500 square feet in heated space or if the square footage of the addition and existing residence exceeds 3,600 square feet.

• The use of pine straw in landscaping would be prohibited.

The following restrictions would apply under the secondary fire district:

• Open burning of landscaping and vegetative debris originating on site would be permitted when materials cannot be transported to the road for pickup due to undue hardship.

• A sprinkler system would be required in all new construction — commercial and residential. Existing commercial buildings would be required to install a sprinkler system when a building’s square footage or occupancy. Existing single-family dwellings would be required to install a sprinkler system if a dwelling increases more than 500 square feet in heated space or if the square footage of the addition and existing residence exceeds 3,600 square feet.

• The use of pine straw in landscaping would be prohibited within 10 feet of any building except single-family dwellings.

To create the two districts, the Hillsborough Board of Commissioners would need to adopt the fire marshal’s proposed ordinance. The proposal will be presented this summer to the board. A date has not been set.