It is the intent of this section to protect the general health, welfare
and safety of the people of the Village of Johnson City by prohibiting open
fires, which are dangerous to life and property.
A. Definitions. As used in this section, the following terms
shall have the meanings indicated:
GARBAGE
The animal and vegetable waste resulting from the handling, preparation,
cooking and serving of food.
OPEN FIRE
Any outdoor fire or outdoor smoke-producing process from which air
contaminants are emitted directly into the outdoor atmosphere.
REFUSE
All waste material, including but not limited to garbage, rubbish,
incinerator residue, street sweepings, dead animals and offal.
RUBBISH
Solid or liquid waste material, including but not limited to paper
and paper products; rags; trees or leaves, needles and branches therefrom;
vines; lawn and garden debris; furniture; cans; crockery; plastic; cartons;
chemicals; paint; grease; sludge; oils and other petroleum products; lumber;
sawdust; demolition materials; tires; and automobiles and other vehicles and
parts for junk, salvage or disposal.
B. Prohibited burning. The following fires are prohibited
in Johnson City:
(1) The burning of garbage, refuse and rubbish in any manner
is prohibited.
(2) All open fires are prohibited in Johnson City, with the exception of those in conformity with the provisions of §
148-2C of this chapter.
(3) Open burning for outdoor cooking is prohibited in or
on multiple-dwelling structures.
C. Permitted burning. Burning in an open fire, provided
that it is not contrary to any other federal, state, county or local law,
ordinance, rule or regulation, will be permitted as follows:
(1) Bonfires. Bonfires shall be permitted only for a publicly-sponsored
celebration or event, or for an organization-sponsored event, or for a public
or private school-sponsored event, and shall be subject to meeting all requirements
of the bonfire permit application obtained from and filed with the Fire Marshal's
office, prior to any bonfire being lit and taking place. No fire shall be
ignited prior to an on-site inspection of the location where the bonfire is
to take place and shall be subject to any and all conditions or restrictions
the Fire Marshal's office may impose for the safety of life and property,
nor shall any fire be ignited prior to the issuance of a bonfire permit issued
by the Fire Marshal's office. The Fire Department shall be notified prior
to igniting any said bonfire permitted by the Fire Marshal's office.
(2) Outdoor cooking. Open burning will be permitted for outdoor
cooking when the fire is limited to the minimal size necessary and contained
in a device or cooking utensil commonly referred to as a "grill" or "hibachi"
and designed for outdoor cooking purposes. All applicable and/or reasonable
safety precautions shall be taken when using said devices or utensils.
(3) Recreational fires or campfires. Small recreational fires
or campfires shall be permitted only when all of the following are adhered
to:
(a) When the fire is contained to a device designed to hold
a small fire, such as an outdoor fireplace, or commercially manufactured steel
or ceramic portable fireplace, and used according to the manufacturer's
directions.
(b) Said fire is solely for a recreational purpose.
(c) Said fire is placed no closer than 25 feet to any structure.
(d) Said fire is properly attended and controlled at all
times by a responsible party with appropriate fire extinguishing equipment
readily available.
(e) Said fire shall not present a safety hazard to life or
property, nor create a nuisance.
D. Control of fires within the Village. If, in the opinion
of the Fire Marshal or the Fire Chief, weather conditions are such that the
starting or the continuation of burning is a risk to life, health or property
within the Village, he or she shall have the right to declare that any and
all burning shall cease immediately until further notice.
E. Enforcement. The Fire Marshal and such firefighting personnel
as he or she shall designate are hereby vested with authority to enforce the
provisions of this section. The Fire Department is hereby authorized to extinguish
any open burning fire being conducted in violation of any of the provisions
of this section.
F. Penalties for offenses.
(1) Any violation by a person, firm or corporation of any
provision of this section shall be deemed a violation pursuant to the Penal
Law of the State of New York, punishable by a fine not exceeding $250 or by
imprisonment for a term not exceeding 15 days, or both.
(2) Any person who takes part in or assists in any violation
of this section shall also be subject to the penalties provided herein.
(3) Each day (twenty-four-hour period) that a violation of
this section is committed or permitted to exist shall be deemed to constitute
a distinct and separate violation.
No person shall throw, drop or place any lighted match, cigar, cigarette
or any burning fragment or part thereof or any burning contents of any pipe
in, upon or through any grating in any sidewalk or any window of any building
or any vehicle or into any accumulation of combustible material adjacent to
any building in the Village.
No person shall store or keep or permit to be kept or to remain in any
building or in any cellar or basement of any building in the Village any accumulation
of empty boxes, barrels, paper, rubbish or combustible material which, in
the judgment of the Chief of the Fire Department, presents or increases a
fire hazard.
No person shall deposit or keep or cause or permit to be deposited or
kept in the Village any hay, straw, excelsior, empty boxes, barrels, wastepaper
or other combustible material in any street, avenue, lane, alley, yard or
place adjacent to any building or within 10 feet of any place where fire exists
or ashes are stored unless such combustible materials are kept in a closed
and separate receptacle.
No person shall deposit or keep or cause or permit to be deposited or
kept any ashes in or within 10 feet of any building or part of a building
constructed in whole or in part of wood in the Village except in a securely
closed container made of metal or other incombustible material.
No person shall keep or store or permit to be kept or stored any excelsior,
paper, shavings or other material of a combustible nature, commonly used for
packing, in any building in the Village unless the same shall be kept in a
covered metal container.
No person shall keep or permit to be kept in any building in the Village
any oily waste or oily rags unless at all times when not in use such oily
waste or oily rags shall be kept in a separate metal can with a self-closing
cover and riveted joints, standing on metal legs which raise the bottom of
the container at least four inches above the floor.
All public areas, all bedroom areas and all storage areas of nursing
homes constructed within the Village of Johnson City shall be equipped with
a sprinkler system or smoke detector device.