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Richland to adopt county regulations on open fires

By Deborah Deasy

Richland residents probably won't need a permit to cook marshmallows this summer over an open fire in their back yards.

Local officials plan to repeal the township's existing ordinance on open burning — which requires such a permit — and replace the local ordinance with Allegheny County Health Department's new and revised rules on open burning.

The new Allegheny County regulations became effective Jan. 1.

“Fires must be at least 15 feet from the nearest neighbor's dwelling or inhabited area, including a property line, roadway, sidewalk or public access area,” according to the health department's new Open Burning Regulation Fact Sheet.

The new county-wide regulations also restrict open fires to 3 feet in width, 3 feet in length and 2 feet in height.

Only clean wood, propane, natural gas, charcoal, wood pellets, fire or paraffin logs may be used for open burning, according to the new regulations.

The county defines open burning as “any fire or combustion from which air contaminants pass directly into the open air without passing through a flue.”

The revised regulations also authorize local fire marshals, police officers and government officials to enforce the county's new regulations on open burning.

“As local officials, we rely on you to help us reach all Allegheny County residents, and to gauge the needs of your constituents,” wrote Jayme Graham, manager of Allegheny County Health Department's air quality program, in a letter received Jan. 16 by Richland officials.

“The definition of open burning has been revised to include any fire or combustion which occurs in a chimney, fire pit, outdoor fireplace or grill,” Graham wrote.

Dean Bastianini, manager of Richland, reported Graham's letter at the Feb. 18 meeting of township supervisors.

Following a discussion of the new county rules on open burning, the supervisors voted to advertise a new ordinance — as required by law — to repeal the township's current ordinance, which was written about 10 years ago, on open burning.

“It is the most misunderstood law we have,” Bastianini said.

Last fall, Richland supervisors tabled proposed, new rules for open burning in Richland when the supervisors learned that Allegheny County planned to revise the county open burning regulations.

Deborah Deasy is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. She can be reached at 724-772-6369 or ddeasy@tribweb.com.

Read more: http://triblive.com/neighborhoods/yournorthhills/yournorthhillsmore/7803287-74/open-burning-county#ixzz3TTRB6kIx 
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