City of Whitehouse

Requirements:  

1. A permit shall be obtained from the Municipal Fire Chief or his designee prior to kindling a fire for recognized silvicultural or      range or wildlife management practices, prevention or control of disease or pest, or a bonfire. Application for such approval shall only be presented by and permits issued to the owner of the land upon which the fire is to be kindled. (IFC 307.2)
2. Burning shall be commenced only when the wind will carry smoke and other pollutants away from any residential, recreational, commercial, or industrial area, navigable water, public road, or landing strip which may be affected by the smoke.  Burning shall not be conducted when a shift in wind direction‐is predicted which could produce adverse effects to persons, animals, or property during the burning period.  If at any time the burning causes or may tend to cause smoke to blow onto or across a road or highway, it is the responsibility of the person initiating the burning to post flag‐persons on affected roads in accordance with the requirements of the Department of Public Safety.
3. Open burning or bonfires shall be constantly attended by a competent adult until the fire is extinguished. A minimum of one portable fire extinguisher complying with a minimum 4‐A rating or other approved on‐site fire‐ extinguishing equipment, such as dirt, sand, water barrel, garden hose or water truck, shall be available for immediate utilization. (IFC 307.5)
4. The burning must be at least 50 feet from any adjacent structure or sensitive receptor which have residential, recreational, commercial or industrial use. (IFC 307.4)
5. Burning shall not be conducted during periods of actual or predicted persistent (12 hours or more) low‐level atmospheric temperature inversive (nonsurface based) or in areas covered by a current National Weather Service’s Air Stagnation Advisory.
6. Heavy oils, asphaltic materials, items containing natural or synthetic rubber, or any material which may produce unreasonable amounts of smoke shall not be burned.
7. Burning permitted of diseased animal carcasses when this is the best way to control disease.
8. Burning permitted of wood and paper products generated from a natural disaster event such as a tornado or storms generated from a hurricane, etc. with approval of the TCEQ.
9. The attending adult shall not meet the definition of “intoxicated” according to Texas Penal Code, Title 10, Chapter 49, Section 1, (2), (A).
10.  Any time a fire is deemed a nuisance or hazardous it shall be extinguished at the request of any fire department personnel or law enforcement.