Grinnell Fire - Rescue
Grinnell Burning Ordinance
Section 307
OPEN BURNING AND RECREATIONAL FIRES

307.1 General.  A person shall not kindle or maintain or authorize
to be kindled or maintained any open burning unless conducted
and approved in accordance with this section.

307.1.1 Prohibited open burning. All open burning is prohibited.

307.1.2 Exceptions.        
    a)Disaster Rubbish.  The open burning of rubbish, including    
        landscape waste, for the duration of a community                 
        disaster period in cases where an officially declared              
        emergency condition exists and open burning has been        
        determined to be necessary by the Mayor.
    b)Diseased Trees.  The open burning of diseased trees            
        shall be allowed.  However, when the burning of the              
        diseased trees causes a nuisance appropriate action may     
        be taken to require relocation of the burning operation.        
        Rubber tires shall not be used to ignite the diseased             
        trees.  Written permission from the Grinnell Fire Chief           
        shall be required to burn diseased trees.
    c)Flare Stacks.  The open burning or flaring of waste gases,    
        provided such open burning or flaring is conducted in          
        compliance with the applicable rules of the State                   
        Department of Natural Resources.
    d)Prairie Maintenance.  Persons engaging in bona fide             
        prairie maintenance may get permission from the Grinnell     
        Fire Chief to conduct prescribed burns.  Use of this              
        provision shall not be used to burn non-maintained areas     
        and overgrown brush and nuisance vegetation.
    e)Training Fires.  Fires set for the purpose of the bona fide     
        training of public or industrial employees in fire fighting        
        methods provided that the State Department of Natural         
        Resources Executive Director receives notice in writing at    
        least one week before such action commences.
    f) Recreational Fires.  Open fires for cooking, heating,             
        recreation and ceremonies, provided they comply with the    
        limits for emission of visible air contaminants established     
        by the State Department of Natural Resources.  The use       
        of charcoal, gas, or electric grills, barbecues, smokers or     
        hibachis, and similar outdoor cooking fire receptacles           
        may take place at         any time.  The burning of                   
        landscape waste generated on the premises shall                  
        not be considered a recreation fire.
    g)Variance.  Any persons wishing to conduct open burning      
        of materials not exempted herein may make application        
        for a variance to the State Department of Natural                  
        Resources Executive Director.   
         
307.2 Permit required.  A permit shall be obtained from the fire     
          code official in accordance with Section 105.6 prior to         
          kindling an outside fire, with the exception of recreational   
          fires.  Application for such approval shall only be                
          presented by and permits issued to the owner of the land   
          upon which the fire is to be kindled.

307.3 Extinguishment authority. The fire code official is                
         authorized to order the extinguishment by the permit           
         holder, another person responsible or the fire department   
         of open burning that creates or adds to a hazardous or       
         objectionable situation.

307.4 Location. The location for open burning shall not be less     
         than 50 feet from any structure, and provisions shall be       
         made to prevent the fire from spreading to within 50 feet of
        any structure.
    Exceptions:
1.        Fires in approved containers that are not less than 15 feet
        from a structure.
2.        The minimum required distance from a structure shall be   
        25 feet where the pile size is 3 feet or less in diameter and 2
        feet or less in height.

307.4.1 Bonfires. A bonfire shall not be constructed within 50       
        feet of a structure or combustible material unless the fire is  
        contained in a barbeque pit.  Conditions which could cause  
        a fire to spread within 50 feet of a structure shall be              
        eliminated prior to ignition.

307.4.2 Recreational fires.  Recreational fires shall not be             
        constructed within 25 feet of a structure or combustible       
        material.  Conditions which could cause a fire to spread        
        within 25 feet of a structure shall be eliminated prior to         
        ignition.

370.5 Attendance.  Open burning, bonfires or recreational fires    
        shall be constantly attended until the fire is extinguished.  A
        minimum of one portable fire extinguisher complying with     
        Section 906 with a minimum 4-A rating or other approved      
        on-site fire-extinguishing equipment, such as dirt, sand,       
        water barrel, garden hose or water truck, shall be available   
        for immediate utilization.