City
modifies burn law
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[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.
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Recent discussions yielded reports that both the streets department
and the city fire department have had a number of fire incidents
related to debris that continued to burn and caused a flare-up or
set a new fire elsewhere.
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:
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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