This chapter is intended to promote the public health, safety
and welfare and to safeguard the health, comfort, living conditions,
safety and welfare of the citizens of the Village of Cassopolis by
regulating the air pollution and fire hazards of outdoor burning.
This chapter applies to all outdoor burning within the Village
of Cassopolis except:
A. Grilling or cooking food using charcoal, wood, propane or natural
gas in cooking or grilling appliances.
B. For the purpose of generating heat in a stove, furnace, fireplace,
or other heating device within a building used for human habitation,
so long as the entire heating device is located within said building.
C. The use of propane, acetylene, natural gas, gasoline or kerosene
in a device intended for heating, construction or maintenance activities.
The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this article,
shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where
the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
CAMPFIRE
A small outdoor fire intended for recreation or cooking but
not including a fire intended for disposal of waste wood or refuse.
CLEAN WOOD
Natural wood which has not been painted, varnished or coated
with a similar material; has not been pressure-treated with preservatives;
and does not contain resins or glues as in plywood or other composite
wood products.
CONSTRUCTION AND DEMOLITION WASTE
Building waste materials, including but not limited to waste
shingles, insulation, lumber, treated wood, painted wood, wiring,
plastics, packaging, and rubble that results from construction, remodeling,
repair, and demolition operations on a house, commercial or industrial
building, or other structure.
FIRE CHIEF
The Chief of the Central Cass Fire Department or other person
designated by the Fire Chief.
OPEN BURNING
Kindling or maintaining a fire where the products of combustion
are emitted directly into the ambient air without passing through
a stack or a chimney. This includes burning in a burn barrel.
OUTDOOR BURNING
Open burning; burning in a patio wood-burning unit; or burning
in an outdoor furnace that burns wood, charcoal, pellets, corn husks,
trash, or a similar fuel.
REFUSE
Any waste material except trees, logs, brush, stumps, leaves,
grass clippings, and other vegetative matter.
Open burning is prohibited in the Village of Cassopolis unless
the burning is specifically permitted by this chapter.
Open burning of refuse is prohibited.
A person utilizing or maintaining an outdoor fire shall be responsible
for all fire suppression costs and any other liability resulting from
damage caused by the fire.
The Fire Chief or any authorized officer, agent, employee or
representative of the Village of Cassopolis who presents credentials
may inspect any property for the purpose of ascertaining compliance
with the provisions of this chapter.