[Ord. 1985-1, 2/4/1985, § 1]
This Part 1 is enacted in the interest of the health, safety and welfare of the residents of the Borough of Watsontown for the prevention of fires and to eliminate nuisances caused by smoke, cinders and ashes.
[Ord. 1985-1, 2/4/1985, § 2; as amended by Ord. 1988-1, 8/1/1988; by Ord. 2010-06, 9/7/2010; and by Ord. 2012-02, 6/4/2012]
1. 
No person shall burn any paper or refuse outdoors within the limits of the Borough of Watsontown.
2. 
The burning of any materials upon any public streets or alleys is specifically prohibited.
3. 
The burning of any dry brush, grass, leaves, paper, wood waste, treated lumber, garbage, vegetable waste, rubber, plastics, clothing, cloth, animal or human waste, furniture, glass, metals, crocking, car parts or products and similar materials is specifically prohibited.
4. 
The burning of fossil and other customary fuels, properly enclosed, for heating, cooking and industrial processes within the structures is permitted.
5. 
Stoves, fireplaces, furnaces, ranges and similar devices within structures for the purpose of heating, cooking or industrial processes are permitted. Materials burned in such devices shall conform to Subsections 3 and 4 above.
6. 
Recreational fires in approved containers, as defined in this Part 1, are permitted.
A. 
Definitions. As used in this Part 1, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
APPROVED CONTAINERS
(1) 
An appliance or device used for a recreational fire, approved by and listed by a recognized testing agency, which is used in accordance with the listing and manufacturer's instructions. The use of such appliances is limited to residential, small commercial, or nonprofit use not requiring a building permit for installation and approvals or permits of other state and federal agencies, the installation of which will be subject to applicable codes and regulations. Charcoal, wood and gas grills, used for the purpose of outside food preparation, are considered approved containers under this section.
(2) 
Outdoor fireplaces constructed and intended for a recreational fire for residences, small commercial or nonprofit application. Such fireplaces shall have an essentially contained fire chamber in which all burning takes place and proper ventilation through which exhaust, gas, smoke or emissions escape.
(3) 
No approved container, with the exception of unmodified charcoal, wood or gas grills used for the purpose of outdoor food preparation, shall have a length or width longer than 36 inches.
RECREATIONAL FIRES
Fires used to prepare food for temporary outdoor heating or for leisure purposes.
B. 
Fuels utilized in approved containers shall be limited to propane, untreated wood and charcoal. No refuse material shall be burned in a recreational fire. No recreational fires shall be set or maintained within 10 feet of any building or within 10 feet of any property line, alley, street or utility right-of-way. No recreational fire shall be left unattended for more than five minutes.
7. 
Exceptions.
A. 
Open fires may be set in the performance of an official duty of any public officer as designated by the Borough of Watsontown if the fires are necessary for:
(1) 
The prevention of a fire hazard which cannot be abated by other means; or
(2) 
The protection of public health; or
(3) 
The training of fire-suppression and rescue personnel.
[Ord. 1985-1, 2/4/1985, § 4; as amended by Ord. 1988-1, 8/1/1988; by Ord. 2010-06, 9/7/2010; and by Ord. 2012-02,6/4/2012]
Any person who shall violate any of the provisions of this Part 1 or fail to comply herewith shall be guilty upon conviction before a Magisterial District Judge. be subject to a fine of not less than $75 nor more than $600, plus costs of prosecution, for each violation.