Recreational Fires
It’s
a summertime staple here in Minnesota, from the incandescent waltz of glimmering
flames to the unabashed aroma of a smoky, wood-fire plume. It might rekindle
fond memories of ghost stories at summer camp or roasting marshmallows lakeside
on a starry evening. For many people, the blaze of a backyard recreational fire
brings the serene sense of outdoor adventure and “oneness” with nature to the
convenience of their own homes.
In recent years, backyard fires have become more common in suburban cities,
where the confines are much tighter than you’d find in the "great outdoors." As
a result, the City of Edina and State of Minnesota have put Fire Codes in place
to address this and related issues:
Edina City Ordinance
605.
Remember, recreational fires are a privilege, not a right -- and with this
privilege comes responsibilities that must be upheld in order for you, your
friends, neighbors and children to safely enjoy a summer fire.
You don't need to look too far from home to understand the potential
consequences of handling a fire irresponsibly. In early 2008 in Bloomington,
amidst gusting winds, one young man started a recreational fire within 10 feet
of his house -- and within 10 minutes, hot ashes blew to his roof and started
the structure on fire.
In April, a Woodbury home caught fire after an improperly extinguished
recreational fire spread from the grass behind the house to the garage,
destroying it along with the resident’s motorcycle parked inside.
In February, right here in Edina, one man thought it would be a good idea to
dump gasoline onto an open fire. A few blisters reminiscent of a bad sunburn
later, he was thankful that he walked away as unharmed as he did.
Thirteen-year-old Taylor Strand, however, was not as lucky.
The young Sauk Rapids girl also tried to reignite a backyard fire using gasoline
in April 2008. When the gasoline and fumes ignited, the gas can she was holding
exploded into a ball of fire, engulfing Strand. Strand and her friend were
unsupervised at the time, so it took several minutes for the friend to wake her
father to put out the flames. The incident left Strand hospitalized with burns
over 80 percent of her body. Doctors say recovery will likely take at least a
year, and even then, her life will never be the same.
Fire prevention and education are two of the Fire Department’s top priorities.
Usually, many burn injuries, fatal fires or property damage could have been
prevented by adhering to the following recreational fire guidelines:
- Before starting a
recreational fire, call the Edina Fire Department Recreational Fire Hotline
at 952-826-0398 to ensure that the fire danger index is low and no bans are
in place.
- Recreational fires are not allowed between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. Sunday
through Thursday or between midnight and 7 a.m. Friday and Saturday.
- Fires must be on private property and contained within a fire ring or
pit.
- Any open, recreational fires must be at least 25 feet from all
structures and the five-foot radius around the fire must be clear of
combustibles.
- Keep a fire extinguisher, hose or bucket of water near your fire at all
times.
- You are only allowed to burn wood (logs a minimum of three inches in
diameter), coal or charcoal.
- Oils, combustible and flammable liquids, rubber, plastics, chemically
treated materials, construction materials, hazardous waste and rubbish/trash
shall not be burned. Do not use flammable or combustible liquids to kindle
or rekindle a fire.
- Keep your fire no larger than three feet in diameter by two feet high.
- Do not start a recreational fire if winds exceed 15 mph.
- Your fire must be attended at all times by at least one responsible
person 18 years of age or older.
- As a courtesy to your neighbors, please let them know when you intend to
have a fire.
- Make sure your fire is completely extinguished before leaving it
unattended.
If the Fire Department receives complaints about
the fire or it constitutes a hazardous condition, the Fire Chief is authorized to
have the fire discontinued immediately.
For more information, call the Edina Fire Prevention Bureau at 952-826-0378.
|
