City modifies burn law           Send a link to a friend

[August 23, 2007]  If you're burning leaves this fall, you'd better know the rules. Citizens inside the city limits of Lincoln will be able to burn landscape wastes this year, but it must be done in a set manner, place and time.

Street Superintendent Tracy Jackson said that they frequently have had to dump an entire truckload of debris in the middle of a city street because the contents caught fire. Then the fire department has to be called to put it out, and after that it has to be cleaned up again. This is costing a lot of extra time for both departments, which are both strapped for manpower.

Fire Chief James Davis said they get a number of calls during the fall burning time to extinguish fires that people thought were out. Flare-ups occur easily from smoldering leaves and landscape wastes. Residents are asked to make certain that debris is completely done burning by the set curfew time, preferably stirring and watering it down thoroughly before leaving it.

Alderman Jonie Tibbs spoke up for people who suffer from breathing illnesses. She opposed allowing burning even on a limited basis, saying, "People that have asthma don't have it on a certain day of the week."

Alderman Buzz Busby suggested that it be a compromise, that burning be allowed only Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. "That gives asthmatics four days a week that they can get out and walk," he said.

Busby also pointed out that both the city and the BOCA codes state that you cannot burn on a blacktopped street. Lincoln has some nice new asphalt streets where it is not permissible.

The streets department also helps property owners by extending the fall hours at the landfill, opening for landscape waste six days a week starting in October.

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Burning will be permitted under these circumstances:

• Days and hours:
  Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday
  April 1 to Oct. 1 -- 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
  Oct. 2 to March 31 -- 8 a.m. to 5 pm.

• Someone must be in attendance at the fire.

• Burning is allowed on concrete and brick streets.

• Fire must be 50 feet from any structure.

• An operating hose must be present at the site.

• Only landscape waste may be burned.

• The fire may not be in a barrel or any container.

• A police officer, firefighter or city code enforcement officer may order any fire to be extinguished if it considered injurious to any citizen.

• When done, make certain the fire is completely out within the curfew limit.

Citations now carry stiffer fines, up from a $15 penalty per citation: $25 for the first violation, $50 for the second, $75 for the third and up to $500 for any violation after that.

[Jan Youngquist]

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