Gilpin Township Burning Regulations
Gilpin Township Ordinance 2 of 2021 sets rules and regulations on open fires and burning and prescribes penalties for violation. Below find a summary of facts from this Ordinance. Full ordinance available on the Ordinances and Resolutions Page.
Definitions
BONFIRE – Any outdoor fire with a base between 3 feet by 3 feet and 6 feet by 6 feet and a flame height up to 6 feet with a fuel of untreated wood and brush.
DAWN – The first appearance of light in the sky before sunrise.
DUSK – The end of daylight in any given day.
RECREATIONAL FIRE - A fire contained within a pit or other noncombustible enclosure for the purpose of pleasure, religious, ceremonial, or other similar purposes using only untreated wood and not exceeding eight cubic feet of fuel.
TRADE WASTE - All solid or liquid material or rubbish resulting from construction, building operations, or the prosecution of any business, trade or industry outside of Gilpin Township , including but not limited to, plastic products, cartons, paint, grease, oil, and other petroleum products, chemicals, cinders and other forms of solid liquid materials provided that trade waste shall not include any coal refuse associated with the mining or preparation of coal.
BONFIRE – Any outdoor fire with a base between 3 feet by 3 feet and 6 feet by 6 feet and a flame height up to 6 feet with a fuel of untreated wood and brush.
DAWN – The first appearance of light in the sky before sunrise.
DUSK – The end of daylight in any given day.
RECREATIONAL FIRE - A fire contained within a pit or other noncombustible enclosure for the purpose of pleasure, religious, ceremonial, or other similar purposes using only untreated wood and not exceeding eight cubic feet of fuel.
TRADE WASTE - All solid or liquid material or rubbish resulting from construction, building operations, or the prosecution of any business, trade or industry outside of Gilpin Township , including but not limited to, plastic products, cartons, paint, grease, oil, and other petroleum products, chemicals, cinders and other forms of solid liquid materials provided that trade waste shall not include any coal refuse associated with the mining or preparation of coal.
Regulations
-No person, either directly or indirectly, shall kindle or maintain an outdoor fire except in an appropriate receptacle or burning pit at least 20 feet from any structure, building or property line. Any such contained fire shall be kept under constant supervision during incineration and at the end of said period shall be completely extinguished.
-In those instances where it is impractical or impossible to confine an outdoor fire to a receptacle or burning pit, an outdoor fire may be kindled or maintained only if such outdoor fire is a controlled fire and is maintained at a distance of 30 feet from any structure, building or property line. All outdoor fires, whether maintained in a receptacle or burning pit or in the open as controlled fires, shall be kept under constant supervision by a Responsible Adult during incineration and at the end of said period shall be completely extinguished.
-Outdoor fires shall be permitted only upon private property and shall take place at least 20 feet from any building, structure, property line or road line.
-Bonfires shall be permitted upon private property and shall take place at least 30 feet from any building, structure, property line or road line.
-No outdoor fire shall be permitted to burn whenever drought or extreme weather conditions exist or when a ban on burning has been placed into effect by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania or other competent governmental body. The Board of Supervisors may, by Proclamation, prohibit any and all outdoor fires when atmospheric conditions or local circumstances make such fires hazardous. It is a violation of this Ordinance for any person to allow any fire to burn under adverse weather conditions or unsupervised or otherwise in an unsafe manner or as an uncontrolled fire. Any such outdoor fire may be extinguished by an official of the township-designated fire company or extinguished immediately upon request of such official.
-No outdoor fire shall be set that results in uncontrolled burning of vegetation or property.
-No person, either directly or indirectly, shall kindle or maintain an outdoor fire except in an appropriate receptacle or burning pit at least 20 feet from any structure, building or property line. Any such contained fire shall be kept under constant supervision during incineration and at the end of said period shall be completely extinguished.
-In those instances where it is impractical or impossible to confine an outdoor fire to a receptacle or burning pit, an outdoor fire may be kindled or maintained only if such outdoor fire is a controlled fire and is maintained at a distance of 30 feet from any structure, building or property line. All outdoor fires, whether maintained in a receptacle or burning pit or in the open as controlled fires, shall be kept under constant supervision by a Responsible Adult during incineration and at the end of said period shall be completely extinguished.
-Outdoor fires shall be permitted only upon private property and shall take place at least 20 feet from any building, structure, property line or road line.
-Bonfires shall be permitted upon private property and shall take place at least 30 feet from any building, structure, property line or road line.
-No outdoor fire shall be permitted to burn whenever drought or extreme weather conditions exist or when a ban on burning has been placed into effect by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania or other competent governmental body. The Board of Supervisors may, by Proclamation, prohibit any and all outdoor fires when atmospheric conditions or local circumstances make such fires hazardous. It is a violation of this Ordinance for any person to allow any fire to burn under adverse weather conditions or unsupervised or otherwise in an unsafe manner or as an uncontrolled fire. Any such outdoor fire may be extinguished by an official of the township-designated fire company or extinguished immediately upon request of such official.
-No outdoor fire shall be set that results in uncontrolled burning of vegetation or property.
Hours
- No outdoor fire shall be permitted between Dusk and Dawn with the exception of recreational fires and bonfires.
- Recreational fires and bonfires, using natural, untreated wood, and cooking fires are permitted so long as they comply with all other provisions of this Ordinance.
- No outdoor fire shall be permitted between Dusk and Dawn with the exception of recreational fires and bonfires.
- Recreational fires and bonfires, using natural, untreated wood, and cooking fires are permitted so long as they comply with all other provisions of this Ordinance.
Unlawful and Prohibited Substances
- Burning of by-products of manufacturing and processing operations and wastes from commercial operations is strictly prohibited.
- Burning of any trade waste from businesses operating inside or outside of the township is strictly prohibited.
- This section shall not be construed to prohibit the burning of brush or wood by a business operating within the township so long as such burning conforms to all other sections of this ordinance and all other state or federal burning regulations.
- Igniting or feeding an open fire for the destruction of refuse or in the conduct of a salvage operation in any private or public place shall be strictly prohibited.
- Nothing herein shall be construed to permit or encourage the burning of any substance determined by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania or the United States Environmental Protection Agency to be a hazardous substance; nor shall any outdoor fire be permitted to burn by any person if such burning is in violation of the Air Pollution Control Act or other legislation of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania or the United States of America or any other competent body.
- No garbage or offal may be burned at any time either indoors or out-of-doors.
- Outdoor fires shall be used only to burn readily combustible materials.
Special Circumstances
-In the event that it is necessary to have any fire exceeding that of the definition of Bonfire, signed, written permission must be obtained in advance from the Chief of Police of the Township with consultation of the Fire Chief. Notice must be given to Armstrong County 9-1-1 and the Fire Chief of the volunteer fire company of the Township at least one (1) hour in advance of any such burn.
-In the event that it is necessary to have any fire exceeding that of the definition of Bonfire, signed, written permission must be obtained in advance from the Chief of Police of the Township with consultation of the Fire Chief. Notice must be given to Armstrong County 9-1-1 and the Fire Chief of the volunteer fire company of the Township at least one (1) hour in advance of any such burn.
Service Fee
In the event that any fire company is required to respond to a fire which violates the Gilpin Township Burning Ordinance, a service fee may be levied by the responding fire company for any costs associated with their response.
In the event that any fire company is required to respond to a fire which violates the Gilpin Township Burning Ordinance, a service fee may be levied by the responding fire company for any costs associated with their response.
Violations and Penalties
Any person who violates any provisions of this chapter as charged by the enforcement officer shall, upon conviction thereof by summary proceedings, be sentenced to pay a fine of not less than $500 and not more than $1,000 and costs associated. In the event the fine and costs are not paid, the person shall be sentenced to serve not more than thirty (30) days in the Armstrong County Jail. Each day a violation exists shall constitute a separate offense.
Any person who violates any provisions of this chapter as charged by the enforcement officer shall, upon conviction thereof by summary proceedings, be sentenced to pay a fine of not less than $500 and not more than $1,000 and costs associated. In the event the fine and costs are not paid, the person shall be sentenced to serve not more than thirty (30) days in the Armstrong County Jail. Each day a violation exists shall constitute a separate offense.
