The Manitowoc Fire Department will work with the city to update the city’s lighting fires ordinance.
Fire Chief Todd Blaser says the update will identify more modern commercial burning devices that residents might use.
He says the update also might make it a little easier for those who can’t have open pit fires to be allowed to if they follow the law.
“Some of the limits we had as far as distances for safety purposes, we are looking at re-doing that ordinance with the help of the City attorney and some of the best practices we know,” he explained. “We can’t identify every commercial device that is out there, so really it comes down to personal accountability, just like it does with our open burning ordinance we have right now.”
Blaser says there still needs to be personal reliability to follow the city’s laws.
Currently, fire pits or portable fire pits need to be at least 30 feet away from any living quarters and 20 feet from any combustible building.
The fire department’s biggest concern right now is what is being illegally burned like leaves, twigs, and trash.
Fines for illegal fires will cost between $100 and $1,000.
