As spring weather is approaching the Ottumwa Fire Department wants to remind all City of Ottumwa residents that the burning of yard waste such as leaves which are defined as leaves and twigs smaller than one inch in diameter and two feet in length shall be permitted on Wednesdays and Saturdays between 10:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m., April 1 through April 30 and November 1 through November 30. Fires must be on your property, no fires in streets, alleys or any other public property.
If the fire department receives a complaint of smoke which is considered offensive the fire will be extinguished. The burning of garbage is always prohibited.
Recreational fires shall be limited to manufactured fire pit appliances, above or below ground fire pits protected by metal, stone, or concrete. Recreational fires shall be located at least 25 feet from any structure or combustible material. Recreational fires shall be limited to 3 feet or less in diameter and 2 feet or less in height. Burning material shall be limited to clean dry wood or commercial fireplace logs. Recreational fires shall be limited to between the hours of 11:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m.
As spring weather is approaching the Ottumwa Fire Department wants to remind all City of Ottumwa residents that the burning of yard waste such as leaves which are defined as leaves and twigs smaller than one inch in diameter and two feet in length shall be permitted on Wednesdays and Saturdays between 10:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m., April 1 through April 30 and November 1 through November 30.
The Ottumwa Fire Department recently received grant funding from the local fire protection and emergency medical service providers grant program, which is established by the State Fire Marshal.
This past year new code adoptions were put in place in regards to outdoor burning. With the temperatures dropping and fall clean-up coming up, the Ottumwa Fire Department wants to remind residents of the following:
With the weather warming up, it’s important to remember the rules regarding open burning. Below are the regulations for burning which are applicable in the City of Ottumwa. A permit shall be obtained from the fire code official (Fire Marshal) in accordance with section 105.6 prior to kindling a fire for recognized silvicultural, range or wildlife management practices, prevention or control of disease or pests, bonfire, construction clearing, disaster or storm damage removal by city request, other open burning permits allowed by adopted fire code. 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, or company hired to conduct such open burning.
The Ottumwa Fire Department is a 32 member department that handles many type of emergencies including, fire, hazmat, emergency medical services, confined space and many others. All the officers attend the National Fire Academy at least once and most have attended twice. Members have taught hazmat classes to seven of the nine counties that Ottumwa covers for hazmat emergencies.
