Recreational Fires
Camp fire season is coming up! 
A few reminders about recreational fires within city limits.
A few reminders about recreational fires within city limits.A recreational fire can only be set with approved starter fuel and can be no more than three feet in height, contained within the border of a "recreational fire site" using dry, clean wood; producing little detectable smoke, odor or soot beyond the property line; conducted with an adult tending the fire at all times; for recreational, ceremonial, food preparation for social purposes; extinguished completely before quitting the occasion; and respecting weather conditions, neighbors, burning bans, and air quality so that nuisance, health or safety hazards will not be created. No more than one recreational fire is allowed on any property at one time.
A recreational fire site is an area of no more than a 3-foot diameter circle (measured from the inside of the fire ring or border); completely surrounded by non-combustible and non-smoke or odor producing material, either of natural rock, cement, brick, tile or blocks or ferrous metal only in an area which is depressed below ground, on the ground, or on a raised bed. Included are permanent outdoor wood burning fireplaces. Burning barrels are not a recreation fire site. Recreational fire sites shall not be located closer than 25 feet to any structure.
Approved starter fuels are dry, untreated, unpainted, kindling, branches, cardboard or charcoal fire starter. Paraffin candles and alcohols are permitted as starter fuels and as aids to ignition only. Propane gas torches or other clean gas burning devices causing minimal pollution must be used to start an open burn.
Residents may burn clean dry wood only, such as: twigs, branches, limbs, "presto logs," charcoal, cord wood or untreated dimensional lumber. This does not include wood that is green with leaves or needles, rotten, wet, oil soaked, or treated with paint, glue or preservatives. Clean pallets may also be used for recreational fires when cut into three foot lengths.
If you wish to report violations to this ordinance, please call the Olmsted County Sheriff’s Department’s non-emergency number at 507-328-6800.
More details about the ordinance are at:
https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/byronmn/latest/byron_mn/0-0-0-1658
