§ 16-59. Banning and/or regulating the use of fire, burning materials, and fireworks during existence of extreme fire danger.  


Latest version.
  • (a)

    Declarations of emergency. When there occurs a lack of precipitation, there may exist an extreme danger of fire within the town. This extreme danger of fire affects the health, safety, and general welfare of the residents of the town and constitutes a state of emergency. It is hereby found that the regulation of fires, burning materials, and fireworks is necessary and expedient for the health, safety, welfare and good order of the town during said emergency.

    (b)

    Regulation of fires, burning materials, and fireworks. When a burning state of emergency is declared, it may be ordered that a person may not:

    (1)

    Set, build, or maintain any open fire, except:

    a.

    Charcoal grills using charcoal briquettes, gas grills, or camp stoves on private property; or

    b.

    Charcoal grills using charcoal briquettes, gas grills, or camp stoves in town parks placed at least 20 feet away from any combustible vegetation.

    (2)

    Throw, discard, or drop matches, cigarettes, cigars, ashes, charcoal briquettes or other burning materials while outdoors, except into a noncombustible container that does not contain combustible materials.

    (3)

    Light or ignite a flare, except upon a roadway in an emergency.

    (4)

    Light, ignite, or use anything manufactured, processed, or packaged solely for the purpose of exploding, emitting sparks or combustion for amusement purposes, including fireworks, firecrackers, bottle rockets, caps, toy snakes, sparklers, smoke bombs, or cylindrical or cone fountains that emit sparks and smoke, except in displays authorized by the town where adequate fire prevention measures have been taken.

    (c)

    Period of emergency. Pursuant to Wis. Stats. § 323.11, burning emergencies shall become effective upon the time and date of the town chairperson, fire chief or county board declaring a state of emergency and shall remain in effect until the period of emergency ceases to exist or until the ratification, alteration, modification, or repeat of the burning state of emergency by the town board, fire chief or, when applicable, the county board.

(Prior Code, § 5-2-7)