Archive for Sunday, April 15, 2007
Heat up the night
Gardening guide
Advertisement
At Home, Spring 2007
Steamboat is notorious for cool summer nights. Many homeowners long for an outdoor fire, but few residents understand the process for obtaining a city permit.
A popular garden accessory is the Mexican-style clay "chiminea." Some people enjoy them as garden ornaments and never actually build a fire in them.
People might be surprised to learn that campfires and fires in manufactured fire pits are legal - with the appropriate permits - in the city limits.
"The only open burning we allow is recreational fires, of which a chiminea would be one," Steamboat Springs Fire Marshall Jay Muhme said.
However, Muhme's office wants to hear from people who plan to enjoy fires in their yards. Homeowners who want to have a fire in a backyard fire ring should stop by city hall, where they can obtain a six-month permit for $25. Permanent fireplace structures, like a chiminea, require a one-time fee of $25.
A fire inspector will visit your property to offer some guidance.
"We want to make sure you aren't planning to build a fire under the eaves or too close to a building," Muhme said.
The inspector also will provide the homeowner with a phone number to call before lighting a fire. It will connect them with emergency dispatch - simply alerting the dispatcher eliminates the need to send firefighters to your home in case an anxious neighbor calls and reports your blaze.
"It's expensive to run the fire department out for a false alarm," Muhme said.
Not to mention the arrival of the fire trucks surely will alter the mood of a backyard barbecue.
- Tom Ross
Comments
Use the comment form below to begin a discussion about this content.
Post a comment (Requires free registration)
Posting comments requires a free account and verification.