02/28/2012 Ordinances 9368No action was taken on Ordinance No. 9368 by the City Council at their
February 28, 2012 meeting.
ORDINANCE NO. 9368
WHEREAS, the City of Grand Island finds it necessary to amend Grand Island
City Code § 16-11, its laws regulating open fires, to reflect modern fire safety and health
standards,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
GRAND ISLAND, NEBRASKA:
I. That Grand Island City Code § 16-11 be amended to read as follows:
§16-i1. Open Fires; Permit
(1) For purposes of this section, Open Fire shall mean burning under such conditions that the products of
combustion are emitted directly into the ambient air.
(2) No person shall cause or permit any open fire within the limits of the City.
(3) Exceptions:
(a) Fires set solely for the outdoor cooking of food for human consumption where no nuisance or hazard is
created;
(b) Fires set with the written pernussion of the Fire Chief of the City of Grand Island or his or her
designated representative:
(i) for the purpose of training public or industrial fire fighting personnel.
(ii) for essential agricultural operation in the growing of crops where no nuisance or hazard is
created.
(iii) for the purpose of destroying dangerous materials or diseased trees.
(iv) for the purpose of clearing land for roads or other construction activity.
(v) for ceremonial, educational, or recreational purposes by a legally established and recognized
non-profit organization or governmental entity.
(vi) for the destruction of animal carcasses for health reasons.
(c) Fires set in operation of smokeless flare stacks for the combustion of waste gases, provided they
meet the requirements of the Nebraska Department of Environmental Control.
(d) For the private, residential use of outdoor fireplaces as defined below and with the following
restrictions:
(i) portable fire pits which are designed and commercially sold to confine outdoor wood fires;
(ii) chimineas, constructed of clay or some other fire safe material which are designed and
commercially sold to confine outdoor wood fires:
(iii) fire rings which are designed to enclose an outdoor �re with a metal tube, poured concrete,
stones, or some other fire safe material partially buried in the ground;
(iv) all outdoor fireplaces must be at a minimum fifteen (15) feet distance from any structure and
placed on a stable, non-combustible surface such as a concrete pad;
(v) the fuel area for all outdoor fireplaces shall be no more than three (3) feet in diameter and
completely enclosed by a non-combustible screening material;
(vi) fuel for outdoor fireplaces shall be limited to untreated wood;
(vii) while in operation, all outdoor fireplaces shall be continuously monitored by at least one (1)
person eighteen (18)years of age or older and an operable garden hose connected to a water
supply shall be available for extinguishing flames; and
(viii) outdoor fireplaces shall not be operated when local average wind speed is twenty miles per
hour (20 mph) or greater.
(4) A fee of ten dollars ($10.00) shall be paid by any person or organization before receiving a permit for any of the
activities listed in paragraph (3)(b) above.
(5) The Fire Chief of the Grand Island Fire Department may prohibit any and all open burning when he or she
determines atmospheric conditions or local circumstances make such fires hazardous.
Approved as to Form n �
February 24, 2012 p City orney
ORDINANCE NO. 9368(Cont.)
II. Any ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict are hereby repealed.
III. This ordinance shall be in full force and will take effect from and after its passage and
publication pursuant to law.
Enacted: February 28, 2012.
ATTEST:
RaNae Edwards, City Clerk
Jay Vavricek, Mayor
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