Bucks County residents will have to hold off on the traditional bonfires and leaf-burning for a little while longer as fire officials clamp down amidst ongoing dry conditions. The county has thrown an extra 15 days onto the original month-long burn ban that started back on October 27. Officials decided this past Wednesday that they were looking to stifle any sparks that could set off something worse. And yes, if you're wondering, keep those firecrackers in the box for now because they just nixed fireworks, too.
The specifics of the ban are pretty straightforward and tight: no open fires. We’re talking about your garbage burn barrels, those autumnal leaf piles everyone loves to torch, the miscellaneous twigs and litter you might think to incinerate – zilch. What's exempt, according to the Bucks County official announcement, is your grilled burgers and franks, propane, and gas stoves are A-OK, charcoal grills can keep on charring, and feel free to puff away on your cigar or cigarette, as tobacco usage isn’t under the ban’s grip. Best have a well-maintained fire ring if you're looking to tell ghost stories by a campfire, and even then, you've got to clear the ground in a 5-foot radius. It's safety first, after all.
The county didn’t just dream this up overnight, as "top municipal fire officials from throughout Bucks County" as detailed by the Bucks County official website, put the heat on to get these rules in place due to a particularly parched fall season they’ve grappled with since late summer. Meanwhile, if you think you can get sneaky with a little backyard bonanza and not get caught, think again, as fines for flicking that Bic start at a cool $100 for you first-time offenders, and who knows what for round two, thanks to state law.
If you need more info—and perhaps a better understanding of what might be at stake if you’re angling to be a rebel—reach out to James O’Malley at the county commissioner's office. He’s the one fielding the calls at 215-348-6414, or hit him up via email at [email protected]. Remember, these rules are in place until mid-December. That’s what's been laid down to keep the county from a bigger burn than anybody would bargain for.
