[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Council of
the Town of Georgetown 3-10-1965 by Ord. No. 602; amended in its entirety 5-10-2017 by Ord. No. 2017-02. Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
A pit dug into the ground or made from stones, masonry, etc.,
that rests on the ground, for keeping a fire used for recreation or
cooking.
A street, sidewalk, alley or bike trail.
A small outdoor fire whose purpose is for pleasure, viewing,
religious, ceremonial, cooking, warmth or similar purposes using only
seasoned dry firewood or commercially available charcoal briquettes.
Items such as paper, plastic, rubber, food products, metal,
glass and combustible liquids.
A building, garage, house or shed attached to the ground
that consists of a roof and may have walls.
Vegetative matter resulting from landscaping and yard maintenance
operations, and includes materials such as tree and shrub trimmings,
vegetables, flowers, leaves, grass clippings, trees and tree stumps.
A.
Within the Town limits of Georgetown, no person shall burn any garbage,
solid waste, commercial solid waste, yard waste, household waste,
junk, refuse, rubbish, construction waste, hazardous waste, buildings,
or structures.
B.
The use of outdoor grills and barbecues for cooking is permitted.
C.
Recreational fires shall be allowed in approved containers or fire
pits.
(1)
For the purpose of this section, an approved container shall be defined
as a device specifically designed for the use of burning wood or charcoal,
including but not limited to portable fireplaces, fire pits or chimineas.
All portable devices shall be equipped with a spark arrestor (i.e.,
screen or chimney). A container made of stone, metal, or ceramic construction
designed for the purpose of containing a fire shall also be permitted,
provided the total burning area does not exceed three feet in diameter
and two feet in height. Wood contained in permissible fires shall
be no more than three feet in length.
(2)
No approved container shall be located within eight feet of a structure
or public way. No approved fire pit shall be located within 25 feet
of a structure or public way.
(3)
Only clean, dry firewood or charcoal may be used for recreational
fires. Construction materials or yard waste are strictly prohibited.
The use of flammable or combustible liquids, other than commercially
produced charcoal lighter fluid, to start the fire is strictly prohibited.
(4)
All recreational fires shall be constantly attended by a responsible
adult until the fire is extinguished. A means of extinguishing the
fire shall be available for immediate use.
(5)
All recreational fires have a maximum time limit of four hours and
shall be properly extinguished at the end of the activities or time
limit. Regardless of when the fire was initiated, it is not allowed
to extend later than 11:00 p.m. and may begin no earlier than 7:00
a.m.
(6)
The fire shall be immediately extinguished any time wind conditions
exist such that the wind may carry brands or embers creating a potential
for fire extension.
D.
The Town Manager or his/her designee may prohibit any type of burning
that becomes a nuisance based on complaints of irritation of eyes
or breathing of others, or when the atmospheric conditions or local
conditions make such fire hazardous and may order the extinguishment
of any fire which creates or adds to a hazardous or objectionable
situation.
