Lombard Fire Dept. offers guidelines for recreational fire regulations

LOMBARD, Illinois--Recreational outdoor fires have become quite popular; however, they can create a safety hazard and neighborhood nuisance.

The Lombard Fire Department offers the following recreational fire regulations, intended to keep families and neighbors safe. Open burning of lumber, pallets, wooden shingles, scrap wood, tree trimmings, leaves, yard waste, cardboard, paper, garbage, and other similar items, is not permitted.

Recreational fires are permitted under the following conditions:

• Only natural firewood cut in short lengths less than two feet may be burned. The fire must be contained in a manufactured, freestanding fire pit or ring or pit not exceeding three feet in diameter.

• All fire rings or pits must be located a minimum of 25 feet away from any structures or combustibles, such as houses, garages, sheds, wood piles and wooden fences. Manufactured, freestanding fire pits must be located a minimum of 15 feet away from any structures or combustibles, such as houses, garages, sheds, wood piles and wooden fences.

• The fire must be constantly attended and supervised by an adult until the fire has been completely extinguished.

• A connected garden hose or other means to extinguish the fire must be readily available.

• The use of flammable or combustible liquid accelerants is not permitted.

• Recreational fires are not permitted on windy days when the smoke may create a nuisance for nearby neighbors.

• Recreational fires are not permitted on commercial or industrial sites or sites with construction activities at any time.

• Police and Fire Department officers are authorized to require that a recreational fire be immediately extinguished and discontinued if it is determined that the fire is not in compliance with the above rules, the smoke is offensive to nearby neighbors, or the burning is determined to constitute a hazardous condition.

Anyone with questions regarding the regulations for recreational fires, please contact the Bureau of Fire Prevention at (630) 620-5750.