§ 20-135. Allowable open burning.

Open burning will be allowable for the following reasons and or purposes:

(1)

Recreational fires. Campfires, bonfires, ceremonial occasions, or non-commercial preparation of food, with the following provisions:

a.

All bonfires require a permit and shall not be more than five feet by five feet by five feet in dimension and shall burn for less than three hours. A bonfire shall consist of seasoned dry wood. No gasoline or other liquid hydrocarbon fuels shall be used for ignition.

b.

Campfires are not permitted in residentially zoned areas. Campfires require a permit and approval of the fire marshal's office.

c.

Barbecue grills or other wood burning grills are allowed at public park and recreation facilities if approved by the park, events, and recreation department. All fires on public park and recreation property shall be attended at all times by at least one individual, until the fire is completely extinguished.

d.

Fires used for food preparation purposes, fueled by wood, charcoal, and gas and confined within a metal or masonry appliance designed for such use are allowed without a permit provided:

1.

The fires are supervised;

2.

The size of fire does not present a fire spread danger; and

3.

The fires are being used expressly for the preparation of food. Food preparation fires are not permitted directly on the ground, unless the containment is approved by the fire marshal's office.

e.

Barbecuing on combustible decks or balconies at multistory apartment complexes is not allowed unless noncombustible surfaces are in place to prevent embers or ashes from contacting combustible materials. Noncombustible surfaces are to be above, below and adjacent to the site.

(2)

Land management fires set by an approved state or local agency specifically for management of forests or range lands.

(3)

Land clearing operations set for the specific reason of clearing land for construction.

a.

All land clearing operations will be conducted in an approved open pit, with induced air, when conducted within 150 to 300 feet upwind of any occupied structures.

b.

No land clearing operations burning, shall be permitted less than 150 feet to any occupied structure.

c.

If operations are proposed less than 300 feet of any occupied structures, all adjoining occupied property owners must consent in writing prior to consideration of the permit being issued.

d.

Land clearing operations with distances of 500 feet or more to occupied structures may be conducted above ground when approved by the fire marshal's office.

e.

During land clearing and maintenance operations burning is restricted to the hours between sunrise and sunset. At sunset, the fires must be extinguished or covered to eliminate any residual smoke. The fire marshal's office may grant an earlier start time, provided that weather conditions are favorable.

f.

Land clearing operations shall be conducted so as to reduce the amount of wood to be burned during the operation.

(4)

Prevention or control of disease or pests as approved by the state or local health department.

(5)

Fire for the purpose of training public and industrial fire department personnel.

(6)

Elimination of fire hazards that cannot be abated by any other means.

(7)

Maintenance of agricultural and land parcels five acres or greater.

a.

Areas to be burned for agricultural purposes must be confined by plowing or tilling the parameter to a width acceptable to the fire marshal.

b.

Burning of tree and vegetation waste on parcels greater than five acres for property maintenance is allowed by permit, so long as, the byproducts do not adversely affect surrounding occupants. The fire marshal shall decide as to whether or not the amount of material to be burned falls under this provision or will be deemed as a land-clearing operation.

(Code 1982, § 12-102; Ord. No. 2699, § 1, 11-13-2000)