[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors of the Township
of Cecil 1-2-1973 by Ord. No. 1-73; amended in its entirety 6-23-2004 by Ord. No. 8-2004. Subsequent amendments
noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Solid waste — See Ch. 200.
This chapter shall be known as the "Cecil Township Burning Ordinance"
and is intended to regulate or prohibit burning.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
A mechanical device which forcefully projects a curtain of
air across a pit in which open burning is being conducted so that
combustion efficiency is increased and smoke and other particulate
matter are contained. The type of parameters of this device to be
utilized in Cecil Township shall be at the sole discretion of the
Township officials.
A permit to kindle or maintain such open fires or other nonexempt fires that are otherwise prohibited by this chapter. The Township Manager, upon application thereof made to the Manager or a designated person, shall issue the permit for the Board of Supervisors. A burning permit is valid for one calendar day only. A fee for each burning permit, as established by the Board of Supervisors and contained within this chapter, shall be charged. This fee may be adjusted from time to time by resolution of the Board of Supervisors. A burning permit shall be required for all fires not listed as exempt under § 82-5.
Any waste generated by normal commercial business activities
normally associated with waste removal services including, but not
limited to, garbage, empty cans and buckets, plastic wraps and bags,
paper products, pallets, empty boxes, excelsior, etc.
Any fire contained in an incinerator, fireplace or other
outdoor enclosure designed for outdoor cooking or recreation or any
fireproof container used for disposal of paper products. Every contained
fire shall be built in and confined to a noncombustible container
covered with a screen of 1/2 inch or smaller mesh, or with other suitable
noncombustible cover.
Any fire not included in the definition of "contained fire"
and under reasonable control of a competent adult.
Any fire which is exempt from the burning regulations and
which may be kindled on any day at any time.
Any enclosed device specifically designed for burning any
material for the production of heat.
Any putrescible animal or vegetable matter resulting from
the handling, preparation, cooking and consumption of food.
Any waste generated by normal household activities normally
associated with waste removal services including, but not limited
to, garbage, empty cans, plastic wraps and bags, paper products, glass
jars, etc.
Any device specifically designed for the destruction, by
burning, of refuse or any combustible material.
Leaves normally gathered by raking, vacuuming, blowing or
other methods that have fallen from trees due to seasonal change or
death of a tree.
Days which Cecil Township has designated as legal holidays:
New Year's Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents' Day, Memorial
Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving
Day, Christmas Day, Easter.
A fire in which any material is burned in the open or in
a receptacle other than a furnace, incinerator or noncombustible container
as described under the "contained fire" definition.
Any individual, partnership, association, corporation, department,
bureau, agency or legal entity.
Any organic material which is subject to rotting decay.
Any fire used in connection with camping, cooking, picnicking,
or other commonly accepted recreational activity and shall not include
the mere burning of logs, trees, lumber or other such materials. Recreational
fires must be clearly used for said purpose at the time of observation
and may only be kindled with seasoned wood, charcoal or other man-made
material expressly for use in recreational fires.
Garbage, rubbish and trade waste.
Fires kindled by the owner/occupant of a residential property
not incidental to land development.
An individual 18 years or older who is not under the influence
of drugs or alcohol or suffering from any other disability which would
impair his or her ability to properly supervise a fire.
Solids not considered to be highly flammable or explosive,
including but not limited to rags, old clothes, leather, rubber, carpets,
excelsior, ashes, furniture, tin cans, glass, crockery, masonry, plastics,
recyclable items and other similar items.
Any business, trade or industry engaged in whole or in part
in salvaging or reclaiming any product or material, including but
not limited to metals, chemicals, shipping containers or drums.
All solid or liquid material or rubbish resulting from construction,
building operations, or the prosecution of any business, trade or
industry, including but not limited to plastic products, cartons,
paint, grease, oil or other petroleum products, chemicals, cinders
and other forms of solid or liquid waste materials. "Trade waste"
shall not include any coal refuse associated with mining or preparation
of coal.
Leaves (still on the branch), garden residue, tree and shrubbery
trimmings and similar materials, including grass clippings.
B.Â
All open fires shall be maintained at least 50 feet from any structure.
Contained fires shall be no closer than 15 feet.
C.Â
Except for exempt fires, a burning permit is required for all burning that occurs at any time other than specified in Subsection A(1). The burning permit is valid for one burn only and will require a ten-dollar administration fee.
D.Â
All fires shall be attended at all times by a responsible adult with
readily available means of extinguishing the fire.
E.Â
Prior to the end of the permitted burning period, all fires must
be extinguished thoroughly with no smoldering.
F.Â
During any fire ban emergency, as proclaimed by Washington County
Emergency Management or the Cecil Township Board of Supervisors, no
burning is permitted.
G.Â
Fires shall be kindled and used only to burn readily combustible
materials such as wood and wood products, tree branches, twigs, sticks,
logs and dry brush.
H.Â
The Township Police Department shall be notified prior to the igniting
of any fire larger than that which would be customary for the recreation
of a single family.
I.Â
Burning of paper and paper products must be contained per the definition of "contained fire" in § 82-2.
J.Â
It is presumed that smoke, ashes and embers from set fires will not
interfere inappropriately with adjoining property owners.
A.Â
Burning incidental to the development of land under one acre is allowed without a permit as prescribed in § 82-3, Residential regulations.
B.Â
Burning incidental to the development of land over one acre for multidwelling
or commercial development shall require a burning permit and be restricted
to the following times, methods, permits and fees:
(1)Â
Time. Tuesday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Burning
on Saturday, Sunday, Monday and legal holidays is prohibited.
(2)Â
Method. All fires for land development over one acre shall require
the use of an air curtain destructor and shall be no closer than 300
feet to any occupied residential or commercial building. A permit
from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP),
if required, shall be obtained and available for inspection at the
Township's request, prior to initiating any burning with this device.
The Township Board of Supervisors may waive the requirement for the
use of an air curtain destructor if the fire is over 800 feet from
any occupied structures and/or the topography will preclude a nuisance
to adjoining property owners, if requested in writing by the applicant.
Should any nuisance such as heavy smoke or flying ash and debris occur
to adjoining property owners, the air curtain destructor waiver shall
be discontinued and the fire shall be extinguished immediately.
(3)Â
Permit. All fires for the purpose of land development over one acre
for multidwelling or commercial development will require a burning
permit. The permit shall include the name and address of the applicant,
a twenty-four-hour emergency telephone number(s) of the individual(s)
responsible for the fire, and it shall be posted in a readily visible
area where the fire is to be kindled.
(4)Â
Fee. A fee of $50 will be charged for each permit or day for a proposed
burn. In addition, any permit for land development over five acres
will require a one-time deposit of $250 to be held in escrow. The
escrow will be returned to the applicant upon completion of the burn,
provided no violations of the regulations have occurred. Any violation
of this chapter may constitute a forfeiture of said escrow.
C.Â
All fires shall be attended to at all times by a responsible adult
with readily available means of extinguishing the fire.
D.Â
All fires must be completely extinguished by the end of the burn
period and shall not be covered and left to smolder.
E.Â
No burning is allowed during a fire ban emergency, as proclaimed
by Washington County Emergency Management or the Cecil Township Board
of Supervisors.
F.Â
The Township Police Department shall be notified prior to the igniting
of any fire larger than that the size of a single-family recreational
fire.
A.Â
Fires set in conjunction with farming operations and in compliance
with the Pennsylvania Right to Farm Act, No. 133 of 1982, and as amended,
provided no unlawful substances are being burned.
B.Â
Fires set solely for recreational purposes or used only for cooking.
Any such fire shall be no more than six feet in circumference.
C.Â
Fires set to prevent or abate a fire hazard and under the supervision
or set by a public officer as accepted or approved by the Pennsylvania
Department of Environmental Protection.
D.Â
Fires set for the purpose of instructing personnel in firefighting.
E.Â
Fires set for environmental purposes shall be permitted without obtaining
a permit, provided the appropriate governmental agency is directing
the setting and control of the fire.
The following are unlawful or restricted:
A.Â
The burning of leaves, grass clippings, garbage/refuse, household
waste, commercial waste, trade waste.
B.Â
The burning of construction debris, aerosol cans, by-products of
manufacturing and processing operations and waste from commercial
operations.
C.Â
No materials of any nature, even if otherwise allowed to be burned
by the provisions of this chapter, shall be transported from any other
properties to the burn-site property for burning. Precut cordwood,
purchased or obtained pursuant to the normal and customary fashion
for obtaining such wood, may be utilized for recreational fires notwithstanding
this provision.
D.Â
Nothing herein shall be construed to permit or encourage the burning
of any substance determined by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's
Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) or the United States
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to be a "hazardous substance";
nor shall any fire be permitted to burn by any persons if such burning
is in violation of the Clean Air Act or other legislation of the Commonwealth
of Pennsylvania or the United States of America or any of their legislative
agencies.
A.Â
During a period of drought or other periods of high fire risk to
woodlands or property within Cecil Township, the Board of Supervisors
may declare a fire ban emergency in Cecil Township with or without
consultation with the fire chiefs of the volunteer fire companies
operating within the Township.
B.Â
Upon the Board of Supervisors declaring a fire ban emergency, all
outdoor burning or fires shall be prohibited until the Board of Supervisors
lifts the ban.
C.Â
The Township shall cause a notice of the fire ban emergency to be
published or reported at least once in a local newspaper of general
circulation. In addition, the Township may issue news releases to
all communications media, including radio, television and newspapers.
The duty and administration of this chapter is hereby conferred
upon legally authorized Township personnel to include the Building
Code Official or his assignees and the Police Department and officers.
A.Â
It shall be unlawful to burn, ignite, incinerate, maintain or otherwise
permit the burning of any materials whatsoever without complying with
the requirements of this chapter.
B.Â
Any person who shall violate any of the provisions of this chapter
shall, upon conviction in a summary proceeding brought in the name
of the Township before a Magisterial District Judge in the same manner
provided for the enforcement of summary offenses under the Pennsylvania
Rules of Criminal Procedure, be sentenced to pay a fine of not more
than $300 and the costs of prosecution and, in default of payment,
to imprisonment for a term not to exceed 90 days, provided that each
day's violation of any of the provisions of this chapter shall constitute
a separate offense.
The Board of Supervisors and its agents, officials and representatives
shall not under any circumstances be liable or responsible for damages
caused to any person or property by reason of the issuance of any
permit under the provisions of this chapter or by reason of the conduct
of any burning activity in compliance or noncompliance with the terms
and provisions hereof. The person, persons, company or companies responsible
for any such fire and the permit holder shall bear sole liability
for any damages caused as a result thereof.
