Policy for Recreational and Outdoor Cooking Fires

Only one and two family dwellings are eligible for recreational fire operation: mobile home parks, apartment buildings with more than two (2) dwelling units, condominiums, or businesses are prohibited.

 

1.      All fires must be kindled in an approved commercially or privately manufactured outdoor recreational fire appliance such as a fireplace, fire pit, and fire pit table or fire pit ring. –OR-  A hand dug fire pit must be at least one (1) foot below grade, no more than three (3) feet in diameter and the outside edge shall be ringed with brick or rock.  Fires shall be no closer than twenty (20) feet from any building, structure, shed, garage, tree, shrub, bush, fence or any other combustible material.  Recreational fire appliances shall not be located on wooden decks.

2.      Only clean dry wood may be burned (i.e... sticks, twigs and the like), the diameter of which is not greater than three (3) inches at the widest point.  No leaves, grass, trash, treated or painted wood, rubber, plastic, textiles, leather or petroleum-based materials and shall not contain any combustible or flammable liquids.

3.      Fires shall be so managed that fires do not exceed three (3) feet above the fireplace/fire pit, and persons are able to stand within four (4) feet of the fire.

4.      Prevailing wind conditions shall be less than 10 miles per hour and shall not create a nuisance for neighboring property owners.

5.      No burning shall occur if the forest fire danger is High, Very High or Extreme (http://www.ct.gov/  Key Word – fire danger) of if a Smog Alert has been issued by the CT DEEP.

6.      Fires are permitted between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and midnight.  All fires must be completely extinguished by midnight.

7.      Fires shall be attended at all times by at least one responsible person age eighteen (18) or older. 

8.      Adequate fire suppression equipment, such as shovels, fire extinguishers or a garden hose shall be accessible at all times while the fire is burning.

9.      Should a fire be determined a nuisance it shall be immediately extinguished.

10.  House numbers shall be visible from the street at all times.

 

Questions regarding the recreational fire ordinance can be directed to the Fire Marshal's office at (203) 630-4010 weekdays between 8:00 am and 4:00 pm or by Email.

 

After-hour complaints shall be directed to Fire Dispatch at 203-235-2535.