HomeMy WebLinkAboutNo 897 Recreational Fires
ORDINANCE 897
AN ORDINANCE ON RECREATIONAL FIRES
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MAPLEWOOD
THAT ON JANUARY 25, 2010 THE CITY COUNCIL PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED
AN ORDINANCE ON RECRETIONAL FIRES:
Section 20-38. Permits required for outdoor fires.
(a). No person shall kindle, ignite, set or start any outdoor fire in the City, not contained in a
city-approved incinerator, at any time, unless authorized by the issuance of a permit as provided
for by the Department of Natural Resources for, “open burning.”
(b). City Authorization for Camp/Recreational Fire. Campfires and so-called “recreational”
fires are defined by Minnesota Statute, § 88.171, as those that are no larger than 3 feet in
diameter and 3 feet in height and used for pleasure, religious, ceremonial, cooking, warmth, or
similar purposes and are specifically authorized under this article subject to the rules and
restrictions as hereinafter written.
Recreational fires should not be lit or maintained if the smoke therefrom unreasonably causes
discomfort or a negative impact to neighboring properties. If a complaint is lodged and verified
by a peace officer or fire fighter and in their opinion is creating a nuisance situation, the operator
may be called upon to extinguish the fire immediately until conditions change or improve.
No permit is required for recreational fires. A copy of the recreational fire code section (§ 20-38)
is available online at www.ci.maplewood.mn.us or you can obtain a paper-copy at the
Maplewood City Hall information desk.
The following are the minimum requirements for camp/recreational fires as defined above:
1. A recreational fire shall be limited to one (1) location per property parcel/address at a
time.
2. Recreational fires must be at least 25 feet from all buildings or combustible materials.
Combustible materials include, but are not limited to: wood, paper and plastics
\[MFSC (07) Section 307.4.2\].
3. Conditions which could cause a fire to spread within 25 feet of a structure shall be
eliminated prior to ignition \[MSFC (07) Section 307.4.2\]
4. Recreational fires must be constantly attended by an adult until the fire burns out
completely or is extinguished \[MSFC (07) Section 307.5\].
5. A minimum of one portable fire extinguisher complying with MSFC (07) Section 906,
with a minimum 4-A rating, or other approved on-site fire extinguishing equipment
such as dirt/sand (available for use as an extinguishing agent), or charged garden
hose; such extinguishing equipment shall be readily available at all times until the fire
is extinguished.
6. The only materials permitted in a recreational fire are wood from trees, small
branches or charcoal.
7. No person shall conduct, cause, or permit burning of rubber, plastics, chemically
treated materials, or other materials which produce excessive or noxious smoke
including, but not limited to, tires, railroad ties, composite shingles, tar paper,
insulation, composition board, sheetrock, wiring, paint, paint filters, construction
debris, garbage, waste materials, and vegetation of any sort, e.g., leaves and grass.
8. Recreational fires must be immediately extinguished if they pose a fire safety risk, if
they are not in compliance with the above, or when directed to do so by a police
officer, firefighter, fire warden, or DNR officer \[MSFC (07) Section 307.3\].
9. Recreational fires are only allowed from 10:00 A.M. until 11:00 P.M. with winds less
than 15 mph unless written permission for an exception is received from the fire chief
or fire marshal.
(c). The owner of any property upon which a fire is started or originally ignited, in violation of
this section, shall be responsible therefore and shall be subject to penalties provided in this
chapter, unless such owner can adduce proof that such fire was started by a stranger or
trespasser. (Repeals and replaces Ord. 838; Code § 20-38, 5/27/03)
This ordinance shall take effect after publishing in the official newspaper.
The Maplewood City Council approved this ordinance on January 25, 2010.