Recreational Fires

7 Rules to Recreational Fires

If you’re within Springfield city limits, there are rules to how and where you can burn a wood fire outdoors. Once you’re outside city limits, these seven rules are good guidelines to follow for a safe fire season.

A “recreational fire” is a fire that is not contained within an incinerator, fireplace, grill, or BBQ pit. All of these methods have a way of emergency containment. These would include in-ground or freestanding firepits, chimeneas, or other cooking, ceremonial, and pleasure / entertainment purposes.

The following information is taken directly from Springfield’s guideline page.

1. There must be a means of extinguishing the fire present at all times.
   1. This is usually a garden hose but can also be a small extinguisher.
2. A fire will not be allowed if winds are 15 miles per hour or greater.
   1. Wind not only adds oxygen to fuel a fire but can spread any embers to other flammable areas of your yard.
3. Total fuel size is limited to a maximum of 3 feet in diameter and 2 feet in height.
   1. This is the full dimensions of your fire. If you have a firepit, bowl, or chimenea this would be the total area of where you burn your wood.
4. The fuel may consist of only dry, seasoned firewood. The fire shall not be conducted within 25 feet of a structure or combustible materials.
   1. Dry, seasoned wood prevents excessive smoke or embers. Burning green wood will create smoke, old wood will create too many embers, and anything else (trash, cardboard boxes, etc.) is not permitted.
   2. Keeping your fire 25 feet from structures greatly decreases the chance of them catching with embers or – in a worst case scenario – a runaway fire.
5. The fire may be ignited by using a small quantity of paper.
   1. Using liquid accelerants is not permitted; including gasoline, diesel, lighter fluid, etc.
6. The fire shall not burn for longer than 4 hours and must be extinguished by midnight of the day it was started.
   1. In layman’s terms, the latest you should start your fire for the full 4 hour burn is around 8pm.
7. The fire will not be allowed if it creates or adds to a hazardous situation.
   1. Things that can be considered a hazard include:
      1. Too much smoke from wet wood
      2. Caustic smells from treated wood or trash
      3. Too many sparks from unprocessed or over dried wood