Lehigh Acres Fire Control And Rescue District Responses To Recreational Fires PDF

Standard Operating Procedure Lehigh Acres Fire Control and Rescue District Supplemental Manual 600 Responses to Recreational Fires 600.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE: The purpose of this standard operating procedure (SOP) is to define authorized recreational burning practices within the Fire District and to...

Standard Operating Procedure Lehigh Acres Fire Control and Rescue District Supplemental Manual 600 Responses to Recreational Fires 600.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE: The purpose of this standard operating procedure (SOP) is to define authorized recreational burning practices within the Fire District and to determine compliance with the provisions found within the current Florida Fire Prevention Code. This SOP applies to Fire District staff who may be called upon to evaluate residential burning conditions found within the Fire District. This SOP shall not apply to residential, commercial, or agricultural vegetative burning that falls under the scope of the criteria established within Florida Administrative Code 62-256.700(1) or 62-256.700(2) or the Florida Forestry Burning “Know the Law Before You Burn” pamphlet. (Rule 62-256.700(1), Rule 62-256.700(2)). 600.2 DEFINITIONS: (a) Recreational Fire - Open burning of vegetative debris and untreated wood in a campfire, ceremonial bonfire, outdoor fireplace, or other contained outdoor heating or cooking device. (b) Yard Waste - “Yard waste” means vegetative matter resulting from landscaping and yard maintenance operations and other such routine residential property clean-up activities. It includes materials such as leaves, shrub trimmings, grass clippings, palm fronds, and brush. It does not include land clearing debris or tree cutting debris. (c) Yard Waste Burning - The intent to burn yard waste as a result of yard maintenance. The regulations from Florida Forestry shall govern the requirements for yard waste burning. This type of intent/activity is separate from a recreational fire. 600.3 RECREATIONAL BURNING REGULATIONS: (a) Recreational Burning shall comply with the requirements provided within the Florida Fire Prevention Code and this SOP. Where Fire District staff responds and/or locates a fire that has been claimed to be a recreational fire, staff will evaluate the size of the fire, setbacks from combustible vegetation, materials being burned, persons responsible for the fire, and the means to contain the fire. The Fire District is permitted to establish regulations for recreational fires through the Florida Fire Prevention Code, NFPA 1-10.10.2. (FFPC NFPA 1-10.10.2). Recreational burning must be compliant with the following regulations: 1. Where burning is conducted on public or private property of someone other than the owner, the person conducting/responsible for the recreational fire shall demonstrate that permission has been obtained by the appropriate government agency, the owner, or the owner's authorized agent. Note: Fire District staff is not authorized to grant anyone permission to burn on property they personally do not own. (FFPC NFPA 1-10.10.1.2). 2. A recreational fire shall be constantly attended by a competent person until such fire is completely extinguished. (FFPC NFPA 1-10.10.5.1). Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2023/05/22, All Rights Reserved. Published with permission by Lehigh Acres Fire Control and Rescue District Responses to Recreational Fires - 1 Lehigh Acres Fire Control and Rescue District Supplemental Manual Responses to Recreational Fires 3. It is unlawful for any individual or group of individuals to build a warming fire, bonfire, or campfire and leave it unattended while visible flame, smoke, or emissions exist. (§ 590.11 Florida Statute). 4. Setbacks for the fire shall be maintained at all times and include a) a minimum of 50 feet from public roads; b) a minimum of 25 feet from combustible, vegetative material such as brush, grass and adjacent vacant lots/forests; and a minimum of 25 feet from all structures. Fully enclosed BBQ grills used for cooking and provided of non-combustible materials may be within 10 feet of a structure with exterior walls of non-combustible construction. (FFPC NFPA 1-10.10.4, FFPC NFPA 1-10.10.6.1). 5. Open fires on the ground shall be limited in size to less than 3 feet in diameter and 2 feet in height. (FFPC NFPA 1-10.10.2). 6. A charged water hose or water source acceptable to the fire official shall be available at all times while the fire is active and until it has been fully extinguished. (FFPC NFPA 1-10.10.5.2). 7. Recreational fires are not permitted on days prohibited by an in effect Lee County burn ban, or where burning has been prohibited by Florida Forestry. (FFPC NFPA 1-10.10.1.3). 8. A recreational fire is not authorized to burn or use the following materials as a fuel: combustible waste material, biological waste, hazardous waste, asbestos containing materials, mercury-containing devices, pharmaceuticals, tires, rubber material, residual oil, used oil, asphalt, roofing material, tar, treated or processed wood, plastics, garbage, or trash. (Rule 5I-2.004 Florida Administrative Code). 9. Openings in incinerators, outdoor fireplaces, permanent barbeques, and grills shall be maintained in good repair and shall be provided with an approved spark arrestor, screen, or door (FFPC NFPA 1-10.10.7). 600.4 FIRE DISTRICT RESPONSIBILITIES: (a) Fire District staff will evaluate the conditions found and determine if the recreational fire is permitted to continue to burn. Fire District staff will extinguish or require extinguishment of any unsafe recreational fire is not compliant with these regulations. A Fire District brochure for recreational burning will be provided to the person(s) on scene along with the burning regulations. (b) Any acreage or large area burn or a pile burn eight feet or larger in diameter must obtain permission/approval from Florida Forestry prior to ignition. (c) Fires that escape control and cause property damage or burn onto property owned by others; unauthorized yard waste burns; fires that contain prohibited materials; and/or fires that require Florida Forestry authorization will result in fire district staff requesting dispatch to notify Florida Forestry of the conditions found and to request a Florida Forestry representative to respond to the scene. Once a fire scene has been made safe (fire extinguished) and the fire investigation and any forms required are Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2023/05/22, All Rights Reserved. Published with permission by Lehigh Acres Fire Control and Rescue District Responses to Recreational Fires - 2 Lehigh Acres Fire Control and Rescue District Supplemental Manual Responses to Recreational Fires completed and where Florida Forestry has been contacted and requested to respond to the scene, the Fire District staff will notify dispatch that their fire units are available. Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2023/05/22, All Rights Reserved. Published with permission by Lehigh Acres Fire Control and Rescue District Responses to Recreational Fires - 3