It shall be unlawful for any person to start, or cause to be started, an open fire to burn woodlands, brush, grass, leaves, or other woodland debris, except as follows:
(A) A controlled burn permit may be issued by the City of Easley Fire Chief, or his designee, for the purpose of disposing of debris resulting from clearing land, subject to the following conditions:
(1) The property being cleared must be six acres or more.
(2) The material to be burned must be placed in a pit at least four feet in depth, in an area of the property which will not be built upon, and shall be recorded on the plat of the property.
(3) The location of the land clearing burning must be a sufficient distance but not less than 1000 feet from public roadways and all residential, commercial, and industrial sites not a part of the contiguous property on which the burning is conducted.
(4) Winds during the time of the burning must be away from any area in which the ambient air may be significantly affected by smoke from the burning if that area contains a public roadway or a residential, commercial, or industrial site.
(5) The amount of dirt on the material being burned must be minimized.
(6) No heavy oils, asphalt materials, items containing natural or synthetic rubber, or any materials other than plant growth may be burned.
(7) The initial burning must be started only between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.; no combustible material may be added to the fire between 3:00 p.m. of one day and 9:00 a.m. the following day. No burning will be permitted on Saturday or Sunday.
(8) No more than two piles 30' x 30' or equivalent may be burned within a six-acre area at one time.
(9) All salvageable timber and pulpwood must have been removed.
(10) A permit fee of $1,000 per day shall have been paid prior to the issuance of this permit.
(B) Fires set for the purposes of training fire fighting personnel will be permitted solely for the purposes of fire fighting training. The duration of the burning is to be held to the minimum required for such purposes. Prior approval by the Mayor is required for any site which is not an established training site.
(C) Fires purposely set for agricultural control of diseases, weeds, pests and other specific agricultural purposes in accordance with practices acceptable to the Department of Health and Environmental Control shall be permitted upon approval of the Mayor.
(D) Untreated wood may be burned in a container approved by the Fire Chief, provided it is under constant supervision. Fire hazard, excess smoke or complaint by property owners in the vicinity are cause for the Fire Chief to revoke this privilege.
(E) No burning permit shall be issued and no burning shall be carried out during any period which the Governor or other authorized official has declared that an emergency exists in connection with open burning. The Fire Chief or his designee may deny or rescind a permit for any valid reason.
(F) This section shall not prohibit cooking fires built in fireplaces, grills or barbecue pits which shall be kept under competent and continuous supervision.
(G) This section shall not prohibit the issuing of permits for bonfires as part of special events under such terms and conditions as provided by the city and the adopted Fire Prevention Code.
(Ord. passed 3-11-91; Am. Ord. 2000-02, passed 3-13-00) Penalty, see § 10.99