HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-05-02 PACKET 05.A.REQUEST OF CITY COUNCIL ACTION COUNCIL AGENDA
MEETING ITEM #
DATE 05/02/12
PREPARED BY Public Safety Craig A. Woolery
ORIGINATING DEPARTMENT STAFF AUTHOR
COUNCIL ACTION REQUEST
Response to previously raised concern at Open Forum by Michelle Ramirez regarding
recreational fires
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Response to previously raised concern at Open Forum by Michelle Ramirez regarding
recreational fires
SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS
MEMO: Dated 4 -26 -12 from Fire Chief Bob Byerly
ADMINISTRATORS COMMENTS
City Administrator Date
COUNCIL ACTION TAKEN: ❑ APPROVED ❑ DENIED ❑ OTHER
To: Honorable Mayor and City Council
From: Fire Chief Bob Byerly
Date: April 24, 2012
Subject: RESPONSE TO APRIL 18, 2012 OPEN FORUM CONCERN
On April 18 2012, during the Open Forum of the City Council meeting, a concerned citizen of
Cottage Grove, Michelle Ramirez, addressed the Council regarding recreational fires. Her
primary concern with "backyard fires" was the pollution they cause and she stated that "rules
on recreational fires can be broken."
Cottage Grove City Code does address "backyard fires" and more commonly referred to as
"recreational fires ". City Ordinance 4 -6 -1, OPEN BURNING, does address recreational fires.
If there is a reported violation of the city code, community service officers or police officers
respond. If a fire where trash, leaves, stumps, treated, painted, varnished, or otherwise coated
lumber are being burned, the officer will have them extinguish the fire and a citation for the
ordinance violation may be issued.
In checking with surrounding area cities, none of the contacted cities ban recreational fires but
have similar rules to those of the City of Cottage Grove.
General rules for recreational fires are: recreational fires must be located at least fifteen feet
(15') away from any combustible structure and at least ten feet (10') from any property line,
unless a different location is approved by the fire chief or our designee. Fires must be
contained in a fire pit or enclosure that is constructed from brick, masonry, metal, or other
noncombustible material. Fires must be no more than three feet (3') in diameter. Flame height
must not exceed three feet (3'). Fires must be constantly attended and a source of water or fire
extinguisher readily available.
The Cottage Grove Public Safety Department receives several complaints per year of illegal
recreation fires or illegal materials being burned as recreational fires. If the Public Safety
Department is notified, either police or fire make contact with the offending parties and have
the fire extinguished. If the CSO, police officer or fire personnel on scene determines a fire
constitutes a hazardous condition to surrounding residences, such as high winds and flying
embers, the fire will be extinguished.