After listening to Dialog on Tuesday on WLVL I am really wondering if they are illegal or not. Some say Yes and some say No. I live in the city and I have a backyard fire all the time. If it's illegal then give me a ticket but I will continue to have them. Any comments?
I tend to believe the mayor and common council as to what the law is over the fire chief. I understand Chief Passuite's concerns, but not everyone is a moron. We don't all burn the neighborhood down. I think as long as you're not bothering anyone (neighbors) then, they should be legal.
I remember some time ago I tried to find out if open burning was allowed in Niagara County in general. I went to four different agencies and got four different answers.
As long as you're not in an area prone to wild fires, I say it should be legal.
I think that as long as you're not in a highly dense residential area, they should be legal. If you manage to burn your own house down in the process, then you're a dumb-ass.
A couple years ago, I also had the DEC at my house due to a complaint by a neighbor about the backyard fire pit. He said that after someone complains more than once, then they feel obligated to come out and give you a threat.
Our neighbor apparently complained 35 times! Never once did the old fart just walk over and talk to us about it.
The DEC guy at that time said that all open burning is illegal in Niagara County, but the law is only enforced when someone complains. Therefore, if that really is the case, Lockport putting the same law on the books would just be redundant.
