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Harrison Township board introduces ordinance adopting 2024 fire code, tightens open-burning rules and fines
Summary
The board introduced Ordinance No. 408 to adopt the 2024 International Fire Code and 2021 NFPA 303, add automatic-adoption language for future code updates, restrict open burning with enumerated exceptions, and raise civil infraction fines; the motion to introduce passed unanimously.
The Harrison Township Board of Trustees on April 14 introduced Ordinance No. 408 to adopt the 2024 International Fire Code (IFC) and the 2021 National Fire Prevention Association (NFPA) 303 standards and to amend the township’s open-burning rules and fine schedule.
Supervisor Kenneth Verkest presented the ordinance and summarized key elements, including language allowing the township to enforce updated code editions without separate ordinance changes and a new prohibition on most open burning. The ordinance lists specific exceptions: charcoal or non-ash fuel cooking fires, permitted wildlife-management or disease-control burns, bonfires limited to 6 feet in diameter and 4 feet high with a fire-marshall-issued permit, recreational fires limited to 3 feet by 2 feet, and certain portable or fixed open-flame devices located a minimum distance from combustibles.
The ordinance also revises the municipal civil-infraction schedule. Under the proposed changes a minimum fine for a violation would rise from $50 to $100, with escalating minimums for repeat offenses (for example, a first repeat minimum increasing to $250, and higher amounts for subsequent repeats), and each day a violation continues would be a separate offense.
Treasurer Lawrence Tomenello moved to introduce the ordinance and direct the clerk to publish notice of introduction and make the full text available; Trustee Dean Olgiati seconded the motion. The board recorded AYES: Kenneth Verkest, Lawrence Tomenello, Brian Batkins, David Bratto, Liza Brown and Dean Olgiati; NAYS: none; Adam Wit was excused. The motion to introduce and publish carried.
Why it matters: adopting the newer IFC and NFPA standards and tightening open-burning rules aims to align township code with contemporary fire-safety practice and to give the township a faster path to enforce future code updates. The ordinance is an introduction; it was not adopted at final reading on April 14 and will return for subsequent notice and consideration.
Next steps: the clerk will publish the notice of introduction and make the full text available at the clerk’s office during normal business hours as directed by the board.
