[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Board of the Town of Potsdam 9-12-1997 by L.L. No. 3-1997 (Ch. 65 of the 1986 Code); amended in its entirety at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I). Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
ACQUIRED STRUCTURE
A structure donated or loaned from a property owner for the purpose of conducting fire training.
AGRICULTURAL LAND
The land and on-farm buildings, equipment, manure processing and handling facilities, and practices that contribute to the production, preparation and marketing of crops, livestock and livestock products as a commercial enterprise, including a "commercial horse boarding operation" and "timber processing." Such farm operation may consist of one or more parcels of owned or rented land, which parcels may be contiguous or noncontiguous to each other.
AGRICULTURAL WASTE
Any waste from naturally grown products such as vines, trees and branches from orchards, leaves and stubble. In addition, any fully organic waste either grown or generated on the premises, including but not limited to paper feed bags, wood shavings used for livestock bedding, bailing twine, and other nonplastic materials. Agricultural waste does not include pesticide containers, fertilizer bags, large plastic storage bags (including bags commonly known as "Ag bags"), offal, tires, plastic feed bags, and other plastic or synthetic materials.
CAMP FIRE
A camp fire or any other outdoor open fire less than three feet in height, and less than four feet in length and width or diameter.
ON-SITE BURNING
The burning of material, grown or generated on a particular property, in an open fire on the same property. For purposes of this definition, the same property shall include only property that is geographically contiguous and under the control or ownership of the same person.
OPEN FIRE
Any outdoor fire or outdoor smoke-producing process from which air contaminants are emitted directly into the outdoor atmosphere. Open fires include burning in barrels or modified barrels. Open fires do not include burning in outdoor furnaces or boilers that are used to heat buildings when the devices are actually used for such purpose.
UNTREATED WOOD
For the purposes of this chapter, any wood or lumber which is not chemically treated, coated, stained, sealed, glued or otherwise adulterated. "Untreated wood" does not include such materials as pressure-treated lumber, plywood, particle board, fiberboard, and oriented strand board.
Except as allowed by § 176-3 of this chapter, no person shall burn, cause, suffer, allow or permit the burning of any materials in an open fire.
The following exceptions will be allowed with a burn permit as stated in § 176-4 of this chapter.
A. 
On-site burning in any Town with a total population less than 20,000 of downed limbs and branches (including branches with attached leaves or needles) less than six inches in diameter and eight feet in length between May 15 and the following March 15. For the purposes of this subsection, the total population of a Town shall include the population of any village or portion thereof located within the Town. However, this subsection shall not be construed to allow burning within any village.
B. 
Barbecue grills, maple sugar arches and similar outdoor cooking devices when actually used for cooking or processing food.
C. 
Small fires used for cooking and camp fires, provided that only charcoal or untreated wood is used as fuel and the fire is not left unattended until extinguished.
D. 
On-site burning of agricultural wastes as part of a valid agricultural operation on contiguous agricultural lands larger than five acres actively devoted to agricultural or horticultural use, provided such waste is actually grown or generated on those lands and such waste is capable of being fully burned within a twenty-four-hour period.
E. 
The use of liquid petroleum fueled smudge pots to prevent frost damage to crops.
F. 
Ceremonial or celebratory bonfires where not otherwise prohibited by law, provided that only untreated wood or other agricultural products are used as fuel and the fire is not left unattended until extinguished.
G. 
Small fires that are used to dispose of a flag or religious item, and small fires or other smoke-producing process where not otherwise prohibited by law that are used in connection with a religious ceremony.
H. 
Burning on an emergency basis of explosive or other dangerous or contraband materials by police or other public safety organization.
I. 
Prescribed burns performed according to 6 NYCRR (Chapter II) Part 194, Forest Practices.
J. 
Fire training, including firefighting, fire rescue, and fire/arson investigation training, performed under applicable rules and guidelines of the New York State Department of State's Office of Fire Prevention and Control. For fire training performed on acquired structures, the structures must be emptied and stripped of any material that is toxic, hazardous or likely to emit toxic smoke (such as asbestos, asphalt shingles and vinyl siding or other vinyl products) prior to burning and must be at least 300 feet from other occupied structures. No more than one structure per lot or within a three-hundred-foot radius (whichever is bigger) may be burned in a training exercise.
K. 
Individual open fires as approved by the director of the Division of Air Resources as may be required in response to an outbreak of a plant or animal disease upon request by the Commissioner of the Department of Agriculture and Markets, or for the destruction of invasive plant and insect species.
L. 
Individual open fires that are otherwise authorized under the Environmental Conservation Law, or by rule or regulation of the Department.
Permits to set fires within the limits of the Town of Potsdam shall be obtained from and issued by the Town Clerk of the Town of Potsdam on presentation by the person requesting the issuance of such permit of a written statement from the nearest Fire Warden of said Town that he has examined the location where said fires are to be set and that, in his opinion, such fires as are to be set thereunder will be safe and not liable to spread or cause destruction to other property and upon the payment of a permit fee as set from time to time by resolution of the Town Board.
Fire Wardens shall, before issuing a statement as required in § 176-4, examine the place where the fire is to be set and the materials which are to be burned and shall determine, in their opinion, whether said circumstances are such as will not be liable to cause a spread of the fire out of control or to cause other destruction of other property than that to be burned; and they shall be entitled to compensation for such examination plus mileage from the residence of the Fire Warden, going and returning, to the place where said fire is to be set, at the current rate of reimbursement as set from time to time by resolution of the Town Board, and such other compensation as may be determined by the Town Board.
A. 
Enforcement. These regulations shall be administered by the Code Enforcement Officer designated by the Town Board.
B. 
Any person violating any of the provisions of this chapter shall be guilty of a violation and, upon conviction thereof, be punished by fine not to exceed $250 for each offense or by imprisonment in the county jail for a term not to exceed 15 days for each offense, or by both such fine and imprisonment.