MY local fire department has STUPID policies.....

[MossRoad]

According to Bill's recounting of the rules his burn pile size requires an inspection. Regardless of how many days the permit is valid for, it would be most useful to be on-hand when that inspection happens. I doubt he was waiting all that day for that inspection if he was told they were not coming, coming tomorrow, or two days later or whenever. The life of the permit is superfluous if he can't get the inspection done.

It sounds like it wasn't made clear when/how the inspection would take place. He requested something that didn't happen and apparently was lead to believe it would. That's wrong. Bill shouldn't have to play 20 Questions with someone to drag the process and timing out of the people who administer the rules. How would anyone even know what questions need to be asked?

If there is a set of rules to follow then the township & fire dept. need to make that work in a reasonable way. For burning that means next half-day or next day in my mind to be useful in planning for the weather. If it is worth inspecting then it's worth setting a time for when that will happen. If that falls through, then phone. It's simple courtesy.

I am teasing you about "lawyer talk" because your questions won't fix the core problem but seem to attempt to excuse the failure.

Had he gone to the township hall and:
Said "I need a burn permit, please".
Asked "When will the inspector come out?"
Asked "Once issued the permit, how long before it expires."
Said "Thanks."

That's two simple questions, not 20.

 

[daugen]

Steve, neat picture, thanks.
You know, now I'm worried to even light mine off. I have the world's nicest concrete block firepit, maybe 20 feet around, but only a 100 feet from my barn and 75 feet from the woods. My piles aren't large, never over five feet, usually three, and I have water at the barn with a charged 3/4 hose and a real/fake fireman's nozzle that many years as a first in volunteer fireman taught me how to use. But the fire STILL got away from me, with a paid fireman helping me right there.
Embarrassed us both for sure....

And I had wet down the field grass. Obviously not enough...I know that now and subsequently drown the surrounding area first. I am actually in the lee of the barn and woods, so not a lot of wind hits the pile. But gosh, I don't put it out at night, it's a big smoldering pile that goes for days and days sometimes. Lot of wet pine needles buried in there slowly cooking. Nobody complains. They all burn their leaf piles on the weekends and it's fine. I just do a little more burning than they do...

I read those NC regs and oh dear. Good thing my property is fully surrounded by woods on all sides ,but not opaque, on one side neighbors can "see in" and sometimes the wind goes their way. Who cares if it blows smoke back into the woods.
Sorry squirrels, you don't get a vote here. But my neighbors do, and I want to be a good neighbor.
And guiltily I sure know what a roof shingle will do in that burn pile. Subcontractors chucked in a few when no one was watching and stuff got put on top. When it lit off, all of a sudden my nice burning pile started putting out black smoke, like a diesel under load....uh oh, what's in there....only a few but one would have thought a box of smoke bombs were in the pile. So yeah, no construction debris if it means roof shingles.

We walk to the stove and turn a knob and get all the fire we want exactly when we want it.
Not quite like a burn pile in surburbia.
This is why I moved to the "country" albeit not too far out of town.
However, maybe one of my neighbor's sisters works for the EPA in Raleigh, or whatever....
and soon the white vans will be coming down my lane.

Am wondering if I should build some kind of screened cover for mine. That might be a good idea. Screen would burn up pretty quick though; what would hold up?

 

[daugen]

I think JD/Bill/OP has received plenty of advice on how to deal with local fire companies and officials.
He's a dead horse on this one, let's not beat him.
But Bill, you could come on back.
Most of us will promise not to be critical.
Let's all just learn from this.
Isn't that the point of this forum other than entertainment?

Four years ago I got called a yuppie for wanting my subsoiler painted right.
I survived...
Bill, c'mon back.
Tell us about your next encounter with the officials and how it went so smoothly.
We hope.

 

[riptides]

My head's about to explode! How do we ever get thru the day??

burn, baby, burn....no, get a permit
volunteer...no, pay taxes for community service
complain..no you can't
volunteer fire dept...no, govt. fire dept....no, wait for some private start-up fire department
big piles are good...no, small piles are good
It'll probably not start another fire....but be prepared anyway
come to my beck and call immediately...hmm, maybe there are other higher priorities...or maybe somebody has a "case of the don'ts"
beer bribery is best...nope, donuts...nope, honey
burn small brush...add in trunks...how about doors and lumber...or treated wood
it'll burn out immediately....or take the better part of a day.
burn anytime....burn only a couple days a year
permit if no snow... snow, no permit...permit always
be nice....nope, the squeaky wheel gets the grease
get your permit over the net...no, get one in person

:smiley_aafz::mur::hissyfit::fiery::duh::stirthepot:unch:ullinghair::muttering::mischievous::biggrin::soapbox::scratchchin::tree::firefighter::chillpill::stopsign::snowflake:

You missed a line for the neighbors.

 

[houstonscott]

No response should be considered approval. HS

 

[blueriver]

Again, I ask, really? I volunteer to help people, save lives and property. Not deal with fires like this. I can't believe this! You should go spend some time on the engine dealing with people with these attitudes...

I volunteered for 15 yrs .. The statement was made cause it was taking so long for an inspection.. The fire would be out before he got there .. Anyways..

 

[riptides]

I volunteered for 15 yrs .. The statement was made cause it was taking so long for an inspection.. The fire would be out before he got there .. Anyways..

Unless someone calls it out out of curiousity sake or safety reasons.

I called my nearby base operations line because of serious smoke one day. Sure enough a live exercise errant round had started forest fire. All counties surrounding the base got involved looking for it. So, it appears others too made the calls, or the base made the calls.

I know when the fire marshalls show up, and you didn't make a call or have a permit ready, it is a hassle for you and them. Right now it is a hassle for the OP, why attempt to make it more of an issue with the VFD and whomever else may pile on?

 

[CobyRupert]

Wow. Lively discussion:
Has anybody suggested this:
Call the dispatch before you set it off. Tell them your going to burn and ask them give you a call if they get any false alarm call ins.
That way when the do-gooder noisy neighbors call them they won't dispatch the VFD.

 

[Parkanzky]

Wow. Lively discussion:
Has anybody suggested this:
Call the dispatch before you set it off. Tell them your going to burn and ask them give you a call if they get any false alarm call ins.
That way when the do-gooder noisy neighbors call them they won't dispatch the VFD.

On the other end of the phone that conversation is going to sound like, "I am about to do an illegal open burn without a permit. Please come issue a citation."

 

[CobyRupert]

On the other end of the phone that conversation is going to sound like, "I am about to do an illegal open burn without a permit. Please come issue a citation."

That's not how bureaucracy works. The left hand doesn't know or care what the right hand is or isn't doing.
If questioned the OP can honestly answer: "Yeah, yeah, I went and filled out a burn permit and all that.., just wanted to do YOU a favor and let you know if someone calls in "