HERMITAGE FIRE DEPARTMENT - ANNUAL STEAK FRY : GUN RAFFLE : CAR CRUISE
Saturday, August 16th, 1:00PM - 7:00PM
Masonic Lodge #810 (East State & Neshannock Road)
Tickets and Information: Hermitage VFD, 2511 Highland Road : (724) 342-0669
Click here for more information!

Relevant Forms and Documents

  Burning Ordinance

 

From Fire Marshal Robert Goeltz - MAY 2008

The fire and life safety messages for this edition are barbeque grills and transportation and storage of gasoline. The time of year is upon us when we put our cooking grills to work. The innocent looking propane fire grill can cause serious damage when not used or stored properly. Before you put your grill to work after winter storage take the time to thoroughly clean all the gas control valves and fire box vents, check the fire box for rust and deterioration, and leak test the propane fittings and hose lines. Above all check the propane cylinder itself for leakage, dings and dents, and rusting. Should deficiencies be visible discard and replace the container. Any of the listed check points, if deficient, can cause serious bodily harm or damage to your property. Remember when barbecuing don’t use the grill inside a building, they generate carbon-monoxide gas. Never store the grill inside or in the basement of your home. Should it accidentally be turned on or leak, it will fill your home with explosive gas vapors. The last reminder when cooking related directly to fire is to not place the grill near anything that will burn, specifically the side walls of your home.

A comment about gasoline. Laws regulating gasoline storage, pumping gas at self-service stations, and storage containers are in place at the city, state and federal level. Be aware your vehicle must be shut off when pumping gas. It is illegal to place anything in the nozzle control that overrides the gas pumps automatic shut off feature. You must remain at all times with the vehicle when pumping gas. Gasoline may only be placed in approved containers designed for gasoline storage. Also, there is a limit to the amount of gasoline in containers that can be transported in your automobile or truck. The transporting and storing guideline to follow is no more than 3-5 gallons at a time. That is the reason the service station attendant shuts off the pump and reprimands you – you broke the rules. Gasoline containers are not to be stored or exposed to excessive heat or in the sun; they should not be placed in the basement of your home or garage; store them outside in an appropriate area. Sounds like a lot of tough rules, but they are in place to protect you!

Hermitage Burning Regulations

1. Burning hours for the City of Hermitage are 6:00 AM to noon.
Exclusion: Burning may be accomplished between the hours of 6:00 AM and 6:00 PM if the fire location is 300 feet away from any occupied building.

2. Days of burning are Monday through Saturday.
Prohibited Days: Sundays, Legal Holidays.

3. Material that may be burned is limited to "ordinary household class A debris," which is wood, paper, cloth, and related materials that do not create noxious odors and heavy smoke.
Prohibited materials: Any material that creates noxious odors and heavy smoke, such as leaves, grass, shrubbery, and household garbage, or creates a justified neighborhood disturbance.

4. All household burning must be in a container approved by the fire department. A five-foot square area around the burning container must be free of burned debris (maintained) and other combustible debris.

5. Special burning permits may be issued by the fire department for material not considered household debris. Such permits will be issued for burning during the hours of 6:00 AM and noon, after which the fire must be allowed to burn out. There shall be no smoldering fires permitted after 6:00 PM.

6. No burning shall be permitted without a permit, except for the burning of household trash during the established burning hours.

7. General conditions for burning with or without a permit are:

A. No fire shall be permitted within 15 feet of any structure or property line. Burning on property lines is permissible when agreed to by adjoining property owners.
B. No open flame or smoldering fire shall be permitted to burn unattended.
C. No fire shall be started when wind or other factors are such to cause a hazardous or unsafe condition.
D. No fire shall be started unless the permit holder has provided both manpower and equipment to extinguish the fire.
E. Recreational fires for outdoor cooking are permitted. Bonfires for recreational cooking or outdoor camping may be no larger than 5' x 5' x 5' and burn no longer than three hours. The Fire Official may order the extinguishment of such when it is a nuisance.
F. Applications for special burning permits, as called for in the Hermitage Fire Code, require a 10-day notification in writing to the fire department prior to the date of permit issuance. The 10-day notification period may be waived by the Fire Official.
G. The Fire Official may issue or deny all special burning permit requests and assign conditions to the issuance of the burning permits.

A. Advised to immediately extinguish the fire.
B. Advised of the Hermitage Burning Rules and Regulations.
C. Advised that a citation will be issued for the violation.