[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors of the Township of Forks 6-25-1992 by Ord. No. 217. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Fire Department — See Ch. 12.
Brush, grass and weeds — See Ch. 71.
Fire prevention — See Ch. 94.
General nuisances — See Ch. 125, Art. I.
Solid waste — See Ch. 159.
It shall be unlawful to engage in the open burning of material anywhere in Forks Township, in a manner that:
A. 
The emissions are visible, at any time, at the point such emissions pass outside the property of the person on whose land the open burning is being conducted.
B. 
Malodorous air contaminants from the open burning are detectable outside the property of the person on whose land the open burning is being conducted.
C. 
The emissions interfere with the reasonable enjoyment of life or property.
D. 
The emissions cause damage to vegetation or property.
E. 
The emissions are or may be deleterious to human or animal health.
The requirements of § 83-1 do not apply where the open burning operations result from:
A. 
A fire set to prevent or abate a fire hazard, when approved by the Forks Township Fire Department and set by or under the supervision of a public officer.
B. 
Any fire set for the purpose of instructing personnel in firefighting, when approved by the Forks Township Fire Department.
C. 
A fire set for the prevention and control of disease or pests, when approved by the Forks Township Fire Department.
D. 
A fire set in conjunction with the production of agricultural commodities in their unmanufactured state on the premises of the farm operation.
E. 
A fire set for the purpose of burning domestic refuse, when the fire is on the property containing a structure occupied solely as a dwelling by two families or less and when the refuse results from the normal occupancy and use of the property. Domestic refuse shall also include brush, branches or tree stumps cleared from the property.
F. 
A fire set solely for recreational or ceremonial purposes.
G. 
A fire set solely for cooking food.
Except for the burning of large quantities of brush, branches or tree stumps, all burning permitted under § 83-2E shall be confined to a noncombustible container covered with a screen of 1/2 inch or smaller mesh. No such fire shall be closer than 15 feet from any building structure or from any property line.
All burning of domestic refuse under § 83-2E above shall be permitted only between the hours of sunrise and sunset.
Any person seeking to burn brush, branches or tree stumps under § 83-2E shall first obtain permission from an authorized officer of the Forks Township Fire Department. Permission shall be given only after the officer has ascertained that such burning can be done in a safe manner and can be done in compliance with applicable Department of Environmental Protection regulations and does not constitute a nuisance or jeopardize the health, safety or welfare of nearby residents.
A person seeking to engage in any open burning not meeting any of the exceptions set forth in § 83-2 shall first obtain a permit from the Department of Environmental Protection as required by the Solid Waste Management Act, 35 P.S. § 6018.610(3). The type of open burning requiring a DEP permit shall include, but not be limited to, 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 and other petroleum products, chemicals, cinders and other forms of solid or liquid waste materials.
[Amended 3-4-1999 by Ord. No. 250]
This chapter shall be enforced by action brought before a District Justice in the same manner provided for the enforcement of summary offenses under the Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure. Any person who violates or permits the violation of this chapter shall, upon conviction in a summary proceeding, be punishable by a fine of not less than $500 nor more than $1,000 or by imprisonment for a term not exceeding 90 days. Each day or portion thereof that such violation continues or is permitted to continue shall constitute a separate offense. Each section of this chapter that is violated shall also constitute a separate offense.