Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Autumn is the season for pumpkins, cold weather and bonfires.
It's also the season when leaf and trash burning can become a problem with asthma, emphysema, bronchitis and allergy sufferers.
The Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) recently released annual information about the many problems that leaf and trash burning can cause. It can cause eye, nose, lung and throat irritation. Open burning can cause shortness of breath, coughing, stomach upset, intestinal upset, headaches, memory loss, skin irritations, burns and even eye damage.
IDEM said that for every five pounds of leaves, the smoke contains about one pound of pollution. The smoke is close to the ground and is breathed in before it disperses.
More importantly, Indiana law restricts open burning. County and city ordinances are often stricter than the state's open burning laws. It is always against the law to openly burn trash such as plastic, batteries, rubber, disposable diapers and painted or stained wood. Burning household trash and outdoor waste is not only illegal but also very dangerous.
The law doesn't just say what is illegal to burn. State law also mentions which types of fires are permitted. Fires celebrating Twelfth Night ceremonies, school pep rallies and scouting activites are allowed. Recreational and cooking fires are permitted.
Residential burning in a vented noncombustible container with enclosed sides, a bottom and a mesh covering with openings also is allowed at a residence with four or fewer units.
Burning is prohibited in apartment complexes and mobile home parks.
Other permitted kinds of fires include farm burning, waste oil burning, Department of Natural Resources burning and U.S. Department of the Interior burning. These fires are restricted and it is best to check with a local fire department, health department or IDEM office before burning.
A person violating the Warsaw city ordinance can be fined a maximum of $100 for each violation.
According to the Warsaw Fire Department, anyone who sees fire or trash burning in the city, should report it to the fire station or police department. City ordinance allows for the police to back the restriction.
Outside city limits in the townships, the fire department does not have police backing. It is illegal to burn trash and leaves according to state regulations. The fire station will go out to a fire outside the city limits if a neighbor reports it as a problem. The county health department will be called to back the fire department.
