[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Council of the Town of Coventry 11-12-1991 by Ord. No. 9-91-0181 as Ch. 6, Art. IV, of the 1991 Code; amended in its entirety11-22-2021 by Ord. No. 04-21-343. Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]
A. 
The Rhode Island Fire Safety Code is the prevailing fire prevention code for the Town.
B. 
Enforcement officer. The enforcement officer of the fire prevention code adopted by this section shall be the fire chief of each fire district in the Town, as the fire code applies to that particular district. Any reference to the "Chief of the Fire Department" or "Chief of the Bureau of Fire Prevention" or any inspector thereof shall mean such enforcement officer. The term "Bureau of Fire Prevention," as used in such code, shall mean the governing body of the fire district or its agent. In addition, the fire districts shall report any violations of this chapter to the Coventry Police Department, which shall have the authority to prosecute said violations in the Coventry Municipal Court as set forth in § 127-3 of this chapter.
C. 
Fees. The establishment of any fees for permits, inspections or other services under the provisions of the code adopted by this section is left to the discretion of the governing body of the particular fire district.
D. 
Definitions. The following definitions shall apply to this chapter:
BONFIRE
Any outdoor fire whose flames reach five feet or higher measured from the ground to the highest flame.
CAMPFIRE
Any outdoor fire fully contained in a fireplace, and consisting of the burning of untreated wood and branches.
FIREPLACE
A structure built for the containment of an outdoor fire, and consisting of a pit, a threshold surrounding the pit, and a screen used to either cover or surround the fire so as to prevent the escape of any errant sparks from the fire.
RECREATIONAL FIRE
The noncommercial burning of materials other than rubbish for pleasure, religious, ceremonial, cooking, or similar purposes in which the fuel burned is not contained in an incinerator, a barbecue grill, or a barbecue pit, and the total fuel area does not exceed three feet in diameter and two feet in height.
No person shall kindle or maintain, or authorize to be kindled or maintained, any outdoor fires including, but not limited to: a) bonfires; b) outdoor fires maintained in a barrel or other improper burning receptacle; c) outdoor fires not contained in a fireplace; d) outdoor fires consisting of the burning of trash, refuse, treated wood or lumber, or any other substance the burning of which may cause the emission of noxious or offensive gases, odors, and/or fumes; or, e) outdoor fires including, but not limited to, the burning of any refuse or decaying animal, fish, or vegetable substances, or any waste materials or firewood or substances of any kind, in a manner that the burning is a nuisance to any person or persons owning or occupying any adjoining or neighboring land. Odors and/or smoke in any neighboring property owner's home constitutes a nuisance for purposes of this chapter.
A. 
Permitted fires. Outdoor fires may be kindled and maintained for the following uses: a) campfires; b) fires authorized by a fire district fire chief for the purpose of training firefighters and retarding the spread of fires and for the burning of brush and/or leaves by special permit from said fire district; c) the cooking of food on barbeques, fireplaces, or grills; and d) recreational fires.
B. 
For any campfire allowed pursuant to § 127-2A above, at least one person must remain present at all times while a campfire is burning, beginning from the ignition of the fire and extending until the fire is fully extinguished. A fire is considered fully extinguished when all flames, sparks, and embers have been completely extinguished. No such fire is permitted within 15 feet of any structure or roadway.
C. 
Recreational fires, defined in § 127-1D above, are permitted under the following conditions:
(1) 
Recreational fires shall not be located within 25 feet of a structure or combustible material unless contained in an approved manner.
(2) 
Conditions that could cause a fire to spread to within 25 feet of a structure shall be eliminated prior to ignition of the fire.
D. 
Fire attendant. All permitted fires shall be constantly attended by a competent person until such fire is extinguished. This person shall have a garden hose connected to a water supply or other fire-extinguishing equipment readily available for use.
Any person who violates any provision of this chapter shall be subject to the penalties set forth in Chapter 1, General Provisions, § 1-2, of the Code of the Town of Coventry.