Streator updates open burn ordinances

STREATOR — The city of Streator recently updated their open burning ordinance. Streator Fire officials say the city updated the ordinances on January 20th, and are meant to reduce smoke emissions, outline recreational fires and ban burning on public streets. The new ordinance says that open burning of dry landscaping waste is allowed only on Tuesday and Saturday every month between 9 AM and sunset and burning can no longer be done on any roadway. The recent ordinance allowed for burning on the brick-paved roads in town.
Here’s what the full outline of the new ordinances entail:
Open burning is defined as “the burning of materials wherein products of combustion are emitted directly into the ambient air without passing through a stack or chimney.” Landscape waste is defined as “any leaves, grass clippings, brush, branches, tree limbs, weeds or other plant matter.”
– The open burning of dry landscape waste will be allowed on Tuesday and Saturday’s only between 9 a.m. and sunset every month of the year. All other times, open burning is prohibited. Open burning is also prohibited during wind conditions that could place structures in jeopardy. All open burning shall be at least 10 feet from any structure and at least 2 feet from any public roadway including sidewalks and concrete curbing.
– Open burning will not be allowed on any roadways.
Recreational fires are defined as “a temporary outdoor fire for warmth, cooking for human consumption, or for non-cermonial purposes where the fire is not larger than three feet by three feet (3’x3’x3’).”
– Recreational fires can be had any day of the year between 9 a.m. and midnight, except when there are sustained winds of 15 mph or gusts of 20 mph or more. All recreational fires must be contained in dry, stacked stone, masonry, or manufactured metal fire pits, rings, or fireplaces no larger than three feet in diameter. All fires must be at least 10 feet from any building, structure, or vehicle and are not permitted in the front yard. Fuel for these fires shall be dry, seasoned wood or equal. No building materials, garbage or yard waste is allowed. The fire must be attended at all times by a person of at least 16 years of age. All fires must be completely extinguished before abandonment.
– The Streator Fire Department reserves the right to extinguish recreational fires that are not in full compliance with the ordinance.