<div class="chunk-title">Sec. 16-13. - Bonfires and other outdoor fires.</div>
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            <p class="incr0">
               (a)
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content1">
               No person shall kindle or maintain any bonfire, rubbish fire or other outdoor fire
               or authorize any such fire to be kindled or maintained without a permit or other proper
               authorization. No permit shall be issued for the burning of refuse that is in violation
               of any state or local air quality open burning regulation.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="incr0">
               (b)
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content1">
               No person shall kindle or maintain any bonfire, or rubbish fire or other outdoor fire
               or authorize any such fire to be kindled or maintained on any land unless the location
               is not less than 100 feet from any structure and adequate provisions are made to prevent
               fire from spreading to within 100 feet of any structure or other property.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="incr0">
               (c)
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content1">
               Any person who receives a permit to burn must notify all surrounding property owners
               who meet the following conditions:
               </p>
            		
            <p class="incr1">
               (1)
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            <p class="content2">
               Own property within a 100-foot radius from the location of the proposed burning; and
               </p>
            		
            <p class="incr1">
               (2)
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            <p class="content2">
               An occupied dwelling is located on the aforementioned property.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="incr0">
               (d)
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content1">
               Bonfires, or rubbish fires, or other outdoor fires shall be constantly attended by
               a competent person until such fire is extinguished. Such person shall have a garden
               hose connected to the water supply, or other fire extinguishing equipment readily
               available for use.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="incr0">
               (e)
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content1">
               The fire marshal's office or the sheriff's department may prohibit any or all bonfires,
               or rubbish fires and other outdoor fires when atmospheric conditions or local circumstances
               make such fire hazardous.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="incr0">
               (f)
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content1">
               Open burning of leaves, tree branches or yard trimmings originating on the premises
               of private residences may be burned on such premises, pursuant to the regulations
               in this section, only if no public curbside pickup service is available.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="incr0">
               (g)
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content1">
               A permit must be obtained from the division of forest resources if the fire is in
               or within 500 feet of woodlands, as defined by G.S. Â§ 113-57, or more than 100 feet
               from a structure. The fire is to burn during the hours of midnight and 4:00p.m.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="incr0">
               (h)
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content1">
               If any outdoor burning or smoke from such burning shall cause a nuisance, the fire
               marshal's office or the sheriff's department shall order that such burning be extinguished.
               Whether an outdoor burning constitutes a nuisance is in the sole discretion of the
               fire official or deputy sheriff called to the scene.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="incr0">
               (i)
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content1">
               A burning permit may be denied in some situations where persons with certified medical
               problems, which can be aggravated by the smoke from open burning, reside in close
               proximity to the location of the proposed burning. The medical problem must be certified
               in writing by a licensed physician. Forms to be completed by the physician shall be
               obtained from the county fire marshal's office. Completed forms shall be returned
               to the fire marshal's office. A registry which contains the names of these individuals
               shall be maintained by the county fire marshal and the local office of the state forest
               service, and its agents. The fire marshal's office shall update the registry as needed.
               The county shall be divided into districts according to the location of the agents
               who issue burning permits. These agents shall review the registry prior to the issuance
               of burning permits. Burning permits shall be denied if the burning is within 300 feet
               of a dwelling occupied by a person with a certified medical problem which can be aggravated
               by smoke. As an exception to the provisions of this subsection, a burning permit may
               be issued only if all individuals with certified medical problems, and who live within
               300 feet of the proposed burning, consent in writing. Written consent must be obtained
               each time a separate burning occurs.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="incr0">
               (j)
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content1">
               Any burning permitted under this section shall not be commenced, and shall be immediately
               terminated, upon declaration of an alert warning or emergency stage of an air pollution
               episode when proclaimed by the county fire marshal or any other federal or state regulatory
               agency.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="historynote0">
               (Ord. of 4-26-93, Â§ 15; Ord. of 8-14-06(2), Â§ 10)
               </p></div>