Enjoy recreational fire pits safely

Fire pits are a great backdrop to summer parties but it’s important to remember the rules. The Dearborn Fire Department requires the following:

• The fire pit must have screening on all sides and the top.
• The fire must be constantly attended.
• The fire must be completely extinguished after use.
• If there is objectionable smoke, the fire must be extinguished.
• If wind direction causes the smoke to invade neighboring structures, the fire must be extinguished.
• Fire extinguishing mediums must be provided, such as an appropriate fire extinguisher, a garden hose, dirt or sand.
• Fire pits must not be located within 15 feet of a structure.
• Wood must be clean and without creosote. No construction materials or trash can be burned.

Remember, “When in doubt, put it out!”

For more info, contact the Fire Inspector at 313-943-2884.

City Ordinance regarding open burning:

Sec. 10-7. - Open burning.

(a) This section applies to all outdoor burning and open burning within the City of Dearborn.

(b) Exceptions. This section does not apply to:

(1) Grilling or cooking food using charcoal cookers, propane or natural gas in cooking or filling appliances, braziers, hibachis, grills, outdoor fireplaces or gas-fired stoves and similar semi-enclosed devices on the premises of a one-family detached dwelling.

(2) Burning for the purpose of generating heat in a stove, furnace, fireplace or other heating device within a building used for human or animal habitation.

(3) The use of propane, acetylene, natural gas, gasoline or kerosene in a device intended for heating, construction or maintenance activities.

(4) The use of non-ash producing fuels being used not less than 15 feet from combustible materials, when used in metal containers for the heating of building materials or for the warmth of workers.

(5) Open burning being used by the fire department in connection with training and performance of its duties.

(c) Definitions.

(1) Clean wood means natural wood which has not been painted, varnished or coated with a similar material, has not been pressure treated with preservatives, and does not contain resins or glues as in plywood or other composite wood products.

(2) Construction and demolition waste means building waste materials, including but not limited to waste shingles, insulation, lumber, treated wood, painted wood, wiring, plastics, packaging, and rubble that results from construction, remodeling, repair, and demolition operations on a house, commercial or industrial building, or other structure.

(3) Open burning means kindling or maintaining a fire where the products of combustion are emitted directly into the ambient air without passing through a stack or a chimney.

(4) Outdoor burning means open burning or burning in a patio wood-burning unit.

(5) Patio wood-burning unit means a portable fire pit, chimnea, patio warmer, or other portable wood-burning device used for outdoor recreation and/or heating. The unit must be enclosed with screening on all sides including the top. The unit must be constructed of steel, concrete, clay or other non-combustible material.

(d) General prohibition on open burning. Open burning, outdoor burning, and burning in in-ground fire pits are prohibited unless specifically permitted by this section.

(e) Open burning of refuse. Open burning of refuse is prohibited including the burning of brush, leaves, and grass clippings.

(f) A patio wood-burning unit may be used in the City of Dearborn only in accordance with all of the following provisions:

(1) The patio wood-burning unit shall not be used to burn refuse.

(2) The patio wood-burning unit shall burn only clean wood.

(3) The patio wood-burning unit shall be located in the rear yard only.

1. a. For the purpose of this section, on corner lots, the rear yard shall be considered the yard opposite the street on which the front door of the house faces.
2. b. This subsection shall be waived during the evening hours of Halloween when a patio wood-burning unit may be placed in a location near the public sidewalk to facilitate greeting trick-or-treaters.
3. c. This subsection shall be waived during a block party licensed by the city. During the block party, a patio wood-burning unit may be placed in the public street as part of the block party festivities.
4. d. This subsection may be waived with the permission of the fire marshal.

(4) The patio wood-burning unit shall be located at least 15 feet from the nearest structure which is not on the same property as the patio wood-burning unit and at least 15 feet from the nearest structure on the same property as the patio wood-burning unit.

(5) The patio wood-burning unit shall not cause a nuisance to neighbors. Objectionable smoke shall be deemed a nuisance.

(6) Operational hours for any patio wood-burning unit shall be limited to the time between 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 a.m.

(7) All fires shall be supervised by at least one person who is 18 years of age or older.

(8) There shall be a minimum of a garden hose connected to a reliable water supply, one gallon bucket of water, or a 2a10BC rated fire extinguisher within 20 feet of any patio wood-burning unit.

(g) The fire department and the police department are authorized to enforce this section.

(h) Any person who violates any provision of this section shall be deemed responsible for a civil infraction.

(1) A third offense within a 12-month period shall be a misdemeanor.

(Ord. No. 81-96, § 1.7, 11-4-81; Ord. No. 13-1394, 4-30-13)