NEW PHILADELPHIA (WJER) - City fire safety officials are explaining the best practices for open burning as part of their annual prevention week. 

New Philadelphia Fire Lt. Mike Pearch says open burning pertains to any fire you light that isn’t contained by a chimney. He says even though that mainly includes burning brush to clear parts of your property in rural areas, there are also regulations in place for small campfires in-and-out of the city limits.

“You need to make sure you’re 25 feet away from any structures. Make sure you have the means to put that fire out whether you have a bucket of water, a garden hose or anything like that. The size can’t be any bigger than three feet in diameter,” he says.

Pearch says Ohio is currently under an open burn ban 6 am to 6 pm every day through November, when the more leaves are on the ground and the humidity has dropped, creating a higher chance of fires getting out control.

“I believe the reason for the 6 am to 6 pm is because most of our rural areas are covered by volunteer fire departments, and those volunteers are working full-time jobs so in the evening they have more of a tendency to be home and be able to cover the rural areas better,” he says.

Pearch says campfires can only be fueled using clean, dry firewood, and recommends keeping them contained with a small fire ring.  

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