Town of Spencer Burning Ban
UPDATE:
12/14/2021
The Town of Spencer Fire Chief issued a ban on December 3rd. Due to the amount of precipitation received this week, this ban is cancelled effective 12/14/2021 at 5:00 p.m.
Residents and business owners are reminded that the only outdoor fires allowed within the Town of Spencer are those used for campfires and outdoor cooking. These are allowed without a burn permit but must be performed in an approved container constructed of steel, brick, or masonry.
All fire pits must be located at a minimum of 15 foot from any structure or combustible material.
A person shall not maintain any outdoor burning from midnight to 7:00 a.m., unless permitted and approved by the Fire Chief.
For more information regarding the Towns burning ordinance, please contact Fire Chief M.T. Lanning at (704) 637-6135
12/03/2021
The Town of Spencer Fire Chief has issued a ban that prohibits burning within 100 feet of a structure. The ban is effective for all areas within the town limits beginning December 3rd, 2021, until further notice.
The town’s burning ban coincides with the ban issued by the North Carolina Department of Agriculture that took effect on November 29 at 5:00 p.m., which prohibits all open burning conducted more than 100 feet from a structure, until further notice. As well as the Rowan County burn ban that took effect on November 30th, 2021, at 5:00p.m.
Any previously issued burning permits are now invalid and fires should be extinguished immediately. This includes any outdoor burning at a residence. Anyone in violation of the burning ban could receive a citation/fine. The issuance of new burning permits has also been suspended.
The open burning ban is authorized by the Town of Spencer per the N.C. State Building Code: Fire Prevention Code Section 307, and Town Ordinance 93.07 to help prevent the potential for increased wildfires due to extremely dry weather conditions within the city and state.
Open burning includes the burning of leaves, branches, and other plant material in addition to the use of recreational fires, bonfires, and outdoor fireplaces. The ban does not apply to cooking fires, such as those confined to enclosed grills or outdoor cookers. In all cases, it is illegal to burn trash, lumber, tires, newspapers, plastics, or other non-vegetative materials. Residents should be especially careful with any potential ignition sources such as cigarettes or sparks from lawn equipment.
For more information, please contact Fire Chief M.T. Lanning at (704) 637-6135