[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors of the Township of
East Cocalico 1-19-2005 by Ord. No. 2005-01.
Amendments noted where applicable.]
This chapter shall be known as the "East Cocalico Township Burning Ordinance."
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated:
The burning of materials wherein products of combustion are emitted
directly into the air without passing through a stack or chimney from an enclosed
chamber (as defined by the International Fire Code 2003, as amended, or its
successors).[1]
Any individual, partnership, association, cooperation, department,
bureau, agency, or other legal entity.
The Township of East Cocalico Township, County of Lancaster, and
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
No person shall ignite, feed, cause, allow, permit, or maintain on any
property any open fire outside of any building for any purpose other than
that specifically allowed herein.
The activities prohibited in this chapter are subject to the following
exceptions:
B.Â
Open fires or controlled burning shall be permitted for
fire-fighting training by volunteer fire companies. Controlled burning, however,
will require a permit issued by the Fire Marshal.
C.Â
Open fires do not include outside barbecues or any fire
maintained in a commercially constructed grill or masonry-constructed grill
for the purposes of cooking and preparing food.
D.Â
Bonfires. An outdoor fire utilized for ceremonial purpose
(for example, school homecoming event). A permit is required to be obtained
from the Fire Marshal.
E.Â
Recreational fires. An outdoor fire burning materials
other than rubbish where the fuel being burned is not contained in an incinerator,
outdoor fireplace, barbecue grill, or barbecue pit and has a total fuel area
of three feet or less in diameter and two feet or less in height for pleasure,
religious, ceremonial, cooking, warmth, or similar purposes.
F.Â
Open fires shall be permitted on any land located in
the Agricultural (A) Zoning District, provided the fire is 100 feet from any
structure or combustible material.
The Fire Marshal shall have the power to enforce the provisions of this
chapter. In the event that the Fire Marshal office is vacant or in the event
that the Fire Marshal is unavailable, the Zoning Officer shall have the power
to enforce the provisions of this chapter.
Any person who violates or permits a violation of this chapter shall,
upon conviction in a summary proceeding brought before a Magisterial District
Judge under the Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure, be guilty of a summary
offense and shall be punishable by a fine of not less than $100 nor more than
$1,000, plus costs of prosecution. In default of payment thereof, the defendant
may be sentenced to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 90 days. Each day
or portion thereof that such violation continues or is permitted to continue
shall constitute a separate offense, and each section of this chapter that
is violated shall also constitute a separate offense.
