Open burning: Rules and tips
IN THE CITY
Well it’s that time of year again. Spring is here, the snow is melting and summer is almost upon us. It’s at this time of year everyone enjoys doing outdoor activities including open burning.
Open burning can be done for various reasons. For example many individuals like to clean up their property. This can accumulate various materials such as leaves, brush, garden waste, slash, slab wood and other natural wood wastes from logging and clearing operations. You as a landowner can burn these items instead of hauling them to the city landfill.
This is a great time of year to have a campfire with your family and friends on your property as well. I can remember where landowners would burn their grass or field every year to control growth or clean the property up.
Now of course with anything we do there are rules and safety tips that go along with what you want to do. If you were not aware, the city has a few rules under the local ordinances. These rules are in the Litter and Illegal Dumping ordinance, which is Chapter 13 section 3 subsection D. You can view this online at http://presqueislemaine.gov/city-ordinances. There are also State of Maine rules that you need to be aware of and follow. You can read the State open burning rules at http://www.eddingtonmaine.gov/uploads/3/5/4/1/3541619/openburning1.pdf.
Here is a list of some of the rules:
1. Attain a Open Burning Permit;
2. Attain permission to burn from the Presque Isle Fire Department;
3. Burn according to the rules (i.e. correct materials, not creating a nuisance); and
4. Keep attending your fire until it is completely extinguished.
The permit is through the City but it’s a State of Maine Permit that is issued. You can purchase this permit at the Presque Isle Fire Department for $10. Once you have received your permit, now you can legally burn according to the rules.
In Presque Isle we require you to call and gain permission to burn each time you like to burn. A person can only burn on their own property. If you rent you must have written permission from the landowner to burn. In addition, you cannot burn in a burn barrel.
While you are doing some of these burning activities, we also would like you to be safe. Some safety tips are listed below:
1. Have a garden hose or water source close by while you are burning;
2. Make sure you keep your fire attended at all times;
3. Be careful of the size of your fire and do not let it get away from you;
4. Know the weather conditions for your location. You should consider the wind speed before you burn;
5. If you are burning any open land you will need to have enough resources (people, tools, water);
6. Watch children around any fires;
7. Do not use accelerants to start your fire; and
8. Do not burn any products except clean wood. Harmful chemicals can come from pressure treated lumber and painted wood.
These safety tips are just a few. If you have any questions please feel free to come into the Presque Isle Fire Department and ask a firefighter. Or call us at 207-769-0881. We would be glad to assist you. Remember to be fire safe while you are enjoying your outdoor activity.
Vince Baldwin is a Captain with the Presque Isle Fire Department and Deputy CEO for the city of Presque Isle. He can be reached at 760-2703 or 769-0881.
