(A) The state’s Fire Code provides the local Fire Chief ability to adopt local fire regulations. The Fire Chief may amend these regulations from time to time as needed. Copies of the regulations are available at City Hall or the Fire Department.
(B) In addition, the City Council has adopted the following regulations pertaining to recreational fires in the city.
(1) Definitions. For the purpose of this section, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
CHIMENEA. A free-standing front loading fireplace or oven with a bulbous body and usually a vertical smoke vent or chimney.
MANUFACTURED FREE- STANDING PIT. A chimenea or other movable device or container designed, marketed and manufactured for the purpose of containing a fire for cooking or recreational purposes.
RECREATIONAL FIRE. A fire maintained within an outdoor fireplace, fire pit, fire ring, chimenea or other manufactured free-standing pit, for pleasure, religious, ceremonial, cooking or similar purpose.
(2) Allowed fires. Recreation fires are allowed under the following conditions.
(a) Only natural, clean, dry firewood, cut in short lengths less than two feet may be burned.
(b) The fire must be contained within an in-ground fire pit, fire ring, fireplace or manufactured free-standing pit not exceeding three feet in diameter. The fire shall be limited in fuel such that at no time does the flame height exceed two feet. The outside edge of in-ground fire pits shall be ringed with approved metal, brick or rock.
(c) All fire rings or pits must be located a minimum of 25 feet away from any structures or combustibles, such as houses, garages, sheds, wood piles and wooden fences. Manufactured free-standing pits must be located a minimum of 15 feet away from any structures or combustibles, such as houses, garages, sheds, wood piles and wooden fences. In addition, fire pits, rings or manufactured free-standing devices shall be set back at least 15 feet from any property line.
(d) The fire must be constantly attended and supervised by an adult until the fire has been completely extinguished.
(e) A charged garden hose or other means to extinguish the fire must be readily available.
(3) Restrictions and limitations.
(a) Recreational fires are not allowed when wind speeds exceed ten mph or when the smoke may create a nuisance or be offensive to others.
(b) Recreational fires are not allowed on commercial or industrial sites, or on sites with construction activities.
(c) The open burning of lumber, pallets, wooden shingles, scrap wood, brush, tree trimmings, leaves, yard waste, cardboard, paper, garbage, plastic, rubber or any other material not constituting natural, dry, clean firewood, is prohibited.
(d) Recreational fires are not permitted when the designated fire official or the state’s Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has officially declared a burning ban due to potential hazardous fire conditions or when the state’s Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has declared an air quality alert.
(e) The use of flammable or combustible liquid accelerants is prohibited.
(4) Enforcement.
(a) When the smoke from a recreational fire is offensive to neighbors or to others in the vicinity, or if the burning is determined to constitute a hazardous condition, the city authorizes Police and Fire Department officers to require the fire be immediately extinguished and discontinued.
(b) In addition to division (B)(4)(a) above, a property owner and/or the responsible party may be cited for violations of this section, in accordance with § 150.999 of this chapter.
(Prior Code, § 1002.02) (Ord. 681, passed 05-29-2001; Ord. 715, passed 05-27-2003; Ord. 852, passed 10-21-2010; Ord. 968, passed 10-28-2019) Penalty, see § 150.999