Cape fire officials explain policies for open burning

Cape Girardeau residents could feel the burn if they don’t comply with the city’s fire-safety regulations.

Assistant fire chief Mark Hasheider said the most common violations involve burning materials that are illegal to burn in the city.

“You are not allowed to burn paper products or cardboard,” Hasheider said. “We have had people try to burn furniture.”

City regulations prohibit residents from burning anything but yard waste such as limbs, leaves and garden trimmings, he said.

While residents can burn limbs, they are not allowed to burn boards and other lumber, Hasheider added.

Recreational and cooking fires are allowed outside most residences as long as the fire is contained in a suitable fireplace or fire container.

There are restrictions regarding such fires at multi-family dwellings such as apartments and duplexes. In those cases, a fire must be at least 15 feet away from buildings and other structures, Hasheider said.

If not contained, a fire less than three feet wide and two feet high should be placed at least 25 feet from structures. Larger fires must be at least 50 feet from structures and may not exceed five cubic feet.

The city allows open burning from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. seven days a week on “OK to burn” days.

The fire chief or his designee will decide whether it is safe to burn.

A “no-burn day” is declared if conditions are dry and windy, officials said. Burning is barred when there are sustained winds of 15 mph or wind gusts of more than 25 mph.

Cape Girardeau residents can check the city’s website for “no-burn day” notifications or call the fire department at (573) 339-6330.

Residents are advised never to leave a fire unattended. It is both unsafe and illegal, fire officials said.

Burning piles of yard waste larger than 10 feet by 10 feet by 5 feet requires a free permit from the fire department, which first will inspect the site.

Land-clearing fires require a Missouri Department of Natural Resources permit as well as a fire-department permit.

Hasheider said residents should not burn anything on a paved street, including leaves. Such burning could damage the roadway, and debris could end up in storm sewers. In addition, it can be a traffic hazard, he said.

Unlike Cape Girardeau, some cities ban open burning entirely, Hasheider said.

There are alternatives to burning yard waste in Cape Girardeau.

Hasheider advised people to rake their leaves to the curb so they can be hauled away as part of the public works department’s annual leaf-collection program.

Hasheider said residents also may mulch their leaves or haul their leaves to the public-works facility.

mbliss@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3641

Pertinent address:

1 S. Sprigg St., Cape Girardeau, Mo.