Plainfield Fire Puts Out Warning on Outdoor Fires

With the early spring weather, more people have been spending time outdoors with recreational fires. 

Along with the recreational fires come questions concerning what is allowed, and that depends upon where you live, according to a news release issued by the . If you live within the , these rules apply:

• Recreational fires cannot be located within 25 feet of a structure or combustible material, such as homes, garages, sheds, fences, trees and bushes. Recreational fire pile sizes cannot exceed three feet in diameter and two feet in height. If your lot size is not large enough to provide the 25-foot separation/distance, you will need an approved container.  
• Recreational fires in approved containers cannot be located within 15 feet of a structure. Examples of approved containers are portable metal fire pits and chimineas.
• Recreational fires shall be constantly attended until the fire is extinguished. A minimum of one portable fire extinguisher with at least a 4-A rating, or sand, water barrel or a charged garden hose must be available for immediate use at all times.
• Recreational fires shall be immediately extinguished if they are found to be offensive or objectionable because of smoke or odor emissions or when atmospheric conditions or local circumstances make such fires hazardous. Examples include, but are not limited to, instances where the smoke is causing a medical issue for a nearby resident or neighbor or when high winds make it hazardous to have a fire.
• The burning of garbage, building materials, landscape waste and leaves is not allowed.
• Recreational fires cannot be located within any easement and must be at least 15 feet from your lot lines.
• Complaints regarding recreational fires should be directed to the police department while the fire is burning. Failure to comply with the above listed rules can result in tickets and fines.

For Plainfield Fire Protection District residents who live in unincorporated areas, most of the same rules apply. However, there are some differences:

• Recreational fires cannot be within 50 feet of a structure. Structure means any and all buildings, whether on a foundation or mobile, including but not limited to houses, garages, sheds and pole barns. The recreational fire pile size cannot exceed six feet in diameter and six feet in height.
• Recreational fires in approved containers must be at least 15 feet from a structure. Examples of approved containers are portable metal fire pits and chimineas.
• Recreational fires shall be constantly attended until the fire is extinguished. A minimum of one portable fire extinguisher with at least a 4-A rating, or sand, water barrel or a charged garden hose shall be available for immediate use at all times during the recreational fire.
• Recreational fires shall be immediately extinguished if they are found to be offensive or objectionable because of smoke or odor emissions or when atmospheric conditions or local circumstances make such fires hazardous. Examples include, but are not limited to, instances where the smoke is causing a medical issue for a nearby resident or neighbor or when high winds make it hazardous to have a fire.
• The burning of garbage, building materials and wastes (other than onsite generated landscape waste) is not allowed. 
• Recreational fires cannot be located within any easement or right of way. 
• Complaints regarding recreational fires should be directed to the Will County Sheriff’s Office while the fire is burning. Failure to comply with the above listed rules can result in tickets and fines.

In all recreational fires the following safety guidelines should always be followed:

• Use kindling to start your fire; never use an accelerant.
• Don’t overload your recreational fire; doing so can cause the fire to become too large which could cause burning logs to fall out of the fire.
• Please keep children and pets at least three feet away from the recreational fire.
• Ashes should be stored in a metal can with a lid, away from combustibles.

For more information, call 815-436-5335 or the county or town in which you reside.