Fairburn

put the clamps down a little harder on outdoor burning Monday night,

but wants residents to know they can still burn their leaves.

The new ordinance

is aimed mainly at developers and builders in the city, and City Council

members were quick to reassure residents they could still burn leaves

without getting a permit.

Residents

will still be able to carry out agricultural fires for the production

or harvesting of crops and burn forest land without a permit.

But if a

developer wants to clear land for a project, the permit process will

kick in, said City Administrator Tony Cox. The applicant would complete

the burning permit application issued by the city of Fairburn, and also

would submit a plat or site plan showing the proposed location of the

pit and information relating to the proximity of any occupied or unoccupied

structure.

The ordinance

also states that pit fires are the only type of fire permitted for the

purpose of land clearing. No above ground fires are allowed in the city

of Fairburn. All pit fires must be operated in strict accordance with

the "Air Curtain Destructor Operating Guide and Procedures"

published by the North Georgia Region Environmental Protection Division.

Pit fires must comply with the following requirements:

The pit

shall be at least 300 feet from any occupied or habitable structure

or public road. Air curtain destructors used solely for utility line

clearing or road clearing may be located at a lesser distance upon approval

of the fire marshall.

Only wood

wastes consisting of trees, logs, brush and stumps may be burned. Sawdust,

other densely packed wood wastes, paper (any type), chemically treated,

coated or impregnated wood, or non-wood construction materials cannot

be burned. The amount of dirt on or in the material being burned shall

be minimized.

Tires or

other rubber products, plastics, heavy oils or asphaltic-based or impregnated

materials shall not be used to start or maintain the operation of the

air curtain destructor.

If a permit

is needed, the applicant cannot burn on Saturdays, Sundays, nights or

holidays.