City OKs the use of residential fire pits
Just in time for spring, the Warren City Council gave final approval on an amendment to the city’s open burn ordinance that will allow for residential firepits and chimineas.
After its March 9 meeting, the council submitted language for the amendment to the city’s legal department, which had 15 days to review the amendment and make changes. The legal department had no edits to the ordinance and the city council passed it unanimously at its Tuesday, April 13, regular meeting. Burning is not allowed between the hours of 1-11 a.m. and all open burning must be done in a receptacle that meets city specifications. All firepits and chimineas must be constructed of metal, ceramic or brick and mortar and must have a spark arrestor made of iron, heavy wire mesh or other non-combustible material. No fire is to be left unattended without at least one person over the age of 18 observing it. It will still be illegal to burn garbage, leaves, animal carcuses or “materials giving off foul odors of any kind.”
The city’s open burning ordinance also specifies that fires in approved containers should not be less than 15 feet from any structure.
Councilwoman Angela Rogensues questioned the times when burning is allowed, suggesting that 1 a.m. is late and that a move to an 11 p.m. cutoff time might be better. Council secretary Mindy Moore said she did not think there was a need to adjust the times when burning was allowed and the measure passed unanimously.
Moore said the new ordinance was modeled after similar ordinances in other cities and was recommended by the fire marshal.
“There has been a lot of discussion on this topic and it is something I have been opposed to over the years,” said Councilman Garry Watts. “But being an elected official representing the people, we are here to listen to what they have to say. This is a decision based on those comments from residents and not on personal feelings. I think the teeth are in the ordinance to deal with a lot of the problems that people complain about.”
Watts said he heard from residents on both sides of the issue but that those in favor of backyard firepits and chimineas outweighed those who were against. He believes the ordinance gives police and fire personnel the ability to ticket those who are burning illegal substances.