A look at burning restrictions
Recent rains may have given Butler County firefighters some respite from grass and field fires, but the threat is still real once dry weather returns.
To help limit the number of such fires, many municipalities impose restrictions on what, when and where residents may burn.
This list offers an overview of what municipalities require of their residents.
Butler
Rubbish may be burned from 5 a.m. to noon Mondays through Saturdays and only in a receptacle that prevents burning particles from being blown by the wind. Weeds, grass, vines and other vegetation may not be burned. However, leaves may be burned on private property from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays in October and November.
TOWNSHIPS
Adams
Burning of garbage, construction materials and anything with an offensive odor is prohibited. Residents planning to have a small campfire can do so if they contact the township ahead of time.
Buffalo
Allows burning of wood, cardboard and paper between 8 and 10 a.m. and from 6 to 8 p.m. To burn at another time requires a permit from the township.
The minimum distance to burn from buildings is 30 feet. However, fires may be 10 feet from a building if that fire is in a noncombustible container with a mesh screen.
Leaf waste must be composted, mulched or collected, not burned.
Butler
Burning is permitted Monday through Saturday from sunup to 5 p.m. in March, April, September, October and November. Burning must not take place in any public right of way and must be farther than 30 feet from a building and 10 feet from the nearest inhabited area, road, property line or utility. Fires must be watched at all times and completely extinguished.
Center
Burning is permitted 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays. The burning of leaves is not permitted. Fires must be in a container at least 30 feet from any structure.
Cherry
No rules.
Clearfield
No rules.
Clinton
No rules.
Connoquenessing
Prohibits burning of tires and hazardous waste.
Cranberry
Recreational fires are permitted without the need for a permit. Any other type of burning is prohibited without special authorization for special cases.
Fairview
Residents must have a fire in an approved waste burner if it is less than 50 feet from a structure. Fires of any kind are not permitted closer than 15 feet from a structure. Approved burning materials are leaves, branches, cardboard and paper, and burning must be done during daylight. A fire cannot be unattended or left while smoldering.
Jackson
No rules.
Jefferson
Paper, cartons, boxes, leaves and tree branches can be burned from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday in an approved burning container. Burning is not allowed on Sundays or legal holidays. However, burning is allowed at social functions, such as a wiener roast.
Mercer
No rules.
Penn
Outdoor burning is permitted from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays. The burning of vegetative matter and wood is permitted. Fires must be at least 20 feet from any building or property line.
Slippery Rock
No rules.
Summit
Burning is permitted Monday through Saturday from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Fires must be completely extinguished.
Venango
No burning on Sundays.
Washington
Covered by nuisance ordinance that declares the burning of garbage, tires, plastic materials or tar products to be a nuisance.
Winfield
No rules.
Worth
No rules.
BOROUGHS
Cherry Valley
No rules.
Chicora
No rules.
Connoquenessing
Burning is allowed Monday through Saturday until 7 p.m.
Eau Claire
No rules.
Evans City
Burning of household refuse is allowed from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesdays when school is not in session, and from 4 to 7 p.m. on Wednesdays when school is in session. Permits are required to burn construction materials. While bonfires are allowed, they, along with all fires, must be more than 30 feet from any structure. A fire in an approved waste burner must be more than 10 feet from any structure.
Fairview
No rules.
Harmony
An ordinance prohibits the burning of refuse, including leaf waste, grass clippings, clean wood, paper, rubber and plastic materials.
Harrisville
Burning is allowed Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Fires must be in a contained area.
Mars
Burning of branches and yard trimmings is allowed between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m., Mondays through Saturdays. No refuse, structures or construction materials may be burned.
Prospect
Burning is allowed Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Fires must be completely extinguished.
Seven Fields
Residents must get a burning permit if they want to have a recreational fire. Residents are not permitted to have burn barrels or other fires and must restrict their activities to fire pits.
Slippery Rock
Burning is allowed April to August.
Valencia
Open burning of refuse is prohibited. Residents are permitted to burn paper waste in a drum that is covered with a mesh screen. Recreational open burning is allowed so long as the fires remain supervised.
Zelienople
Burning of refuse is prohibited. Residents are allowed to have small fires for recreational or ceremonial purposes. Recreational fires must be kept to a safe container, and must use only dry firewood and a small amount of paper. Law enforcement officials can shut down recreational burning if the odor or smoke is offensive to neighbors.
