Chapter 7
Emergency Management

Part 1
Open Burning

§ 7-101.   Definitions

§ 7-102.   Relation to Other Laws

§ 7-103.   Open Burning in Restricted Area

§ 7-104.   Permission

§ 7-105.   Notification

§ 7-106.   Penalty

Part 2
Reimbursement for Abatement of Hazardous Material

§ 7-201.   Authorization

Part 3
Fire Insurance Proceeds Escrow

§ 7-301.   Use of Fire Insurance Proceeds

§ 7-302.   Limits of Liability

§ 7-303.   Insurance Company Rights Reserved

§ 7-304.   Construction

§ 7-305.   Notification of Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development

§ 7-306.   Penalty

Part 4
Fire Control Measures and Regulations

§ 7-401.   Adoption of Fire Control Measures and Regulations

§ 7-402.   Authority at Fires and Other Emergencies

§ 7-403.   Interference with Fire Department Operations

§ 7-404.   Compliance with Orders

§ 7-405.   Vehicles Crossing Fire Hose

§ 7-406.   Definition of Authorized Emergency Vehicle

§ 7-407.   Operation of Vehicles on Approach of Authorized Emergency Vehicles

§ 7-408.   Vehicles Following Fire Apparatus

§ 7-409.   Unlawful Boarding or Tampering with Fire Department Emergency Equipment

§ 7-410.   Damage, Injury-Fire Department-Equipment, Personnel

§ 7-411.   Emergency Vehicle Operation

§ 7-412.   Blocking Fire Hydrants and Fire Department Connections

§ 7-413.   Hydrant Use Approval

§ 7-414.   Public Water Supply

§ 7-415.   Yard Systems

§ 7-416.   Maintenance of Fire Suppression Equipment

§ 7-417.   Sale of Defective Fire Extinguishers

§ 7-418.   Street Obstructions

Part 1 Open Burning

§ 7-101. Definitions .

   As used in this Part:

   Agricultural waste–any matter generated by crop, horticultural or livestock production practices, and includes such items as woody debris and plant matter from stream flooding, bags, cartons, structural materials and landscape wastes that are generated in agricultural activities, but does not include land clearing waste, buildings, garbage, dead animals, motor vehicles and parts thereof, nor economic poisons and containers, thereof, unless the manufacturer has identified open burning as safe disposal procedure.

   DEP–Department of Environmental Protection Director or agencies delegated authorities by the Director of the Department of Environmental Protection or the Chief of any Department of Environmental Protection District Office.

   Economic poisons–include, but are not restricted to, pesticides such as insecticides, fungicides, rodenticides, miticides, nematocides and fumigants, seed disinfectants and defoliants.

   Garbage/refuse–all putrescible and non-putrescible waste (except body waste) and including, but not limited to, garbage, rubbish, street cleaning, dead animals, abandoned automobiles and solid market and individual waste.

   Land clearing waste–plant matter which is removed from land, including plant matter removed from stream banks during projects involving more than one property owner, for the purpose of rendering the land useful for residential, commercial or industrial development.

   Landscape waste–any plant matter, except garbage, including tree trimmings, branches, stumps, brush, weeds, leaves, grass, shrubbery, yard trimmings and crop residues.

   Open burning–the burning of any materials wherein smoke, ash or embers are emitted into the air without passing through a screened stack or chimney. Open burning does not include the legal smoking of tobacco products.

   Plant life–vegetation including, but not limited to, trees, tree branches, leaves, yard trimmings, shrubbery, grass and weeds.

   Residential waste–any matter, including landscape wastes, generated on a one or multi-family residence as a result of residential activities, but not including garbage.

   Restricted area–the area within the boundary of Plains Township a municipal corporation established in accordance with the provisions of state and local law and its local Zoning and Planning Ordinance [Chapter 27], zone extending 1,000 feet beyond the boundaries of such municipal corporation.

(Ord. 2009-6, 7/9/2009, § 1; Ord. 2015-1, 5/14/2015, § 1)

§ 7-102. Relation to Other Laws .

   1.   Notwithstanding any provision in this Part, no open burning shall be conducted in an area where an air alert, warning or emergency under local, state or federal is in effect.

   2.   No provisions to this Part permitting open burning, and no permission to open burn granted by DEP, shall exempt any person from compliance with any section of federal law, or any regulation of any state department, or any local ordinance or regulation dealing with open burning.

   3.   No person shall start kindle, cause, allow or maintain any form of open burning on private or public property, except as specifically authorized by this Part or except as permitted in writing by the Plains Township Fire Department.

(Ord. 2009-6, 7/9/2009, § 1; Ord. 2015-1, 5/14/2015, § 1)