Granville Township Burning Ordinance

Part 1 Outdoor Open Fires

101. Definitions. Unless otherwise expressly stated, the following words, when used in this Part 1, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this Section:

PERSON - shall include firm, every partnership, association, corporation and other entity.

CAMPFIRES – a small fire contained in a fire ring, pit, or container for the purpose of outdoor cooking, barbecuing or illumination.

OPEN FIRES - shall mean all fires whether or not contained in a metal or masonry enclosure, and shall include smoldering coals.

LARGE PILE – is a quantity of burnable materials covering an area over 1000 square feet, and must be materials permitted to be burned according to State law. Exception to the above can be made for fire training purposes when monitored by Fire Chief. (Ord. 12/23/1971, 12/23/1971, 1; as amended by Ord. 1992-6, 7/13/92; as amended by Ord. 2004-5, 6/28/04; as amended by Ord. 2005-8, 9/6/05)

102. Exceptions to Outdoor Fires. It shall be unlawful for any person to set or maintain an outdoor, open fire of any kind, including items that can be recycled within the Township limits, Township of Granville, Mifflin County, Pennsylvania, except under the following conditions:

1. Between one (1) hour after sunrise and one (1) hour before sunset.

2. Monday through Saturday, inclusive.

3. Only while such fires are constantly attended by a responsible person over the age of sixteen (16) years.

4. Such fires must be at least twenty-five (25) feet from the property line on all sides.

5. Which are not a nuisance in fact or dangerous to the person or surrounding property.

6. If the fire to be burned is for clearing of property for a construction project, or demolition material, or agricultural related, burning can occur during the day or night and on Sunday, as long as notification is given prior to lighting the fire. Notification must be given to the Township office during normal working hours. Outside of normal working hours and on weekends or holidays notification must be given to the Communications Center. ( 7, 102, cont’d) ( 7, 105)

In the case where the township has been notified, the Township will forward the information to the Communication Center and the fire companies by facsimile transmission.

7. If burning after dark or burning a large pile, as permitted in this ordinance, anytime of day or night, the property owner or responsible person attending the fire must notify the Mifflin County Emergency Services dispatch center prior to lighting the fire. (Ord. 12/23/1971, 12/23/1971, 2; as amended by Ord. 1988-1, 4/24/1988; as amended by Ord. 2004-5, 6/28/2004; as amended by Ord. 2005-8, 9/6/05)

103. Burn Bans. The Board of Supervisors may institute a burn ban in the Township from time to time when environmental conditions, such as drought/dryness of vegetation, make open burning dangerous to the adjoining areas. A ban may also be imposed when the National Weather Service issues a “Drought Warning” or “Drought Emergency” for Mifflin County, PA. When a burn ban is in effect, no burning of any kind is permitted. (Ord. 2005-8, 9/6/05)

104. Transporting Burnable Materials into the Township is Prohibited. No flammable materials of any kind may be imported, brought into, transported into, or disposed of, or for the purpose of disposing by burning, or burned within the Township of Granville. (Ord. 2005-8, 9/6/05)

105. Penalties. Any person, firm or corporation who shall violate any provision of this Part, upon conviction thereof in an action brought before a district justice in the manner provided for the enforcement of summary offenses under the Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure, shall be sentenced to pay a fine of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000.00), plus costs, and, in default of payment of said fine and costs, to a term of imprisonment not to exceed ninety (90) days. Each day that a violation of this Part continues or each Section of this Part, that shall be found to have been violated, shall constitute a separate offense. Any person, firm or corporation who shall violate any provision of this part, shall be further ordered by a police officer, fire chief, township supervisor, or township code officer to immediately extinguish the fire. (Ord. 2005-8, 9/6/05; as amended by Ord. 2008-4, 9/8/08)