No person shall allow, cause or permit open burning of combustible materials; except that, the following shall be permitted subject to restrictions imposed by the Oskaloosa Fire Department, the Iowa Administrative Code and all federal regulations concerning air quality and public safety:
(A) General regulations.
(1) All allowed materials must be burned within and approved container having:
(a) One-inch holes spaced at 12-inch centers over the entire surface of the container;
(b) Which shall be placed on non-flammable blocks to a height of at least four inches above the ground; and
(c) The opening shall be entirely covered with a wire mesh with openings of no more than one-half inch.
(2) All open burning must be at least 50 feet away from any habitable building.
(3) All open fires are supervised by a competent person who is in constant attendance until ail fire has been extinguished.
(4) Prohibited materials are rubber tires, chemicals, furniture, carpeting, household appliances and vinyl products.
(5) This chapter prohibits all persons from conducting or permitting open burning on public property without prior authorization of the public entity responsible for its control and care. This includes roadways and easements.
(B) Disaster rubbish. Any refuse resulting when a declared emergency condition exists. The open burning of rubbish, including landscape waste, for the duration of the community disaster period in cases where an officially declared emergency condition exists;
(C) Diseased trees. The open burning of diseased trees is allowed. However, when the burning of diseased trees causes a nuisance, appropriate action may be taken to require relocation of the burning operation. All other tree and tree-trimming waste may be burned at a tree-trimming pile site that is operated by local government and which is burned regularly, supervised and fenced off from the public. Rubber tires shall not be used to ignite diseased trees;
(D) Landscape waste. The disposal by open burning of landscape waste originating on the premises. However, the burning of landscape waste shall be limited to areas located at least 50 feet from any inhabited building. Rubber tires shall not be used to ignite landscape waste;
(E) Recreational fires. Open fires for cooking, heating, recreation and ceremonies, provided they comply with the limits for emission of visible contaminates established by the state’s Department of Environmental Quality; and
(F) Backyard burning. Backyard burning of residential waste (not to include vegetable matter, plastic or any other material considered toxic by state and/or federal law), at dwellings of four family units or less will be permitted only in approved containers.
(Prior Code, Art. 9, Ch. 4, § 1) (Ord. passed 8-4-2009)