Printer-friendlyEnvironment DEC
From the April 2008 issue
Fire Department and Three Individuals Charged in Illegal Controlled Burn
The Ira Fire Department (Cayuga County) and three individuals were fined recently for unlawfully releasing asbestos into the air and illegal solid-waste disposal, among other violations stemming from the burning of an abandoned house last fall. Specifically, they were charged for violating Environmental Conservation Law, illegally conducting a controlled burn, and failing to notify local and state officials-the vacant house they burned for practice was located outside of their fire district. DEC investigated the "demolition by burning" case last November. The vacant house was located on Farnham Road near Cross Lake in the town of Lysander (Onondaga County).
Investigation Reveals Violations
After an investigation, DEC pursued a consent order against the Ira department's fire chief, the owner of the vacant house, and the contractor that disposed of burn debris. The fire department and the three individuals charged each paid $3,000 fines for violating three separate sections of the Environmental Conservation Law: unlawfully releasing a hazardous substance (asbestos) into the environment; illegal disposal of solid waste, and unlawful burning of solid waste in an open fire.
The demolition was initially defended as a controlled burn for training by the Ira Fire Department, but the investigation determined that the burn was illegally conducted outside the Ira department's contracted district. In addition, the Ira department failed to properly notify local police and fire authorities before the burn, prompting the fire company that covers the area-Plainville Fire Department-to respond, putting residents and businesses in the area at risk if an actual emergency occurred.
Firefighters are required to follow specific guidelines for conducting training exercises
Burn Guidelines Also Ignored
Guidelines of the National Fire Prevention Agency require that all controlled burns have a burn plan completed prior to a training exercise. The plan must include training objectives, lesson plans, response plans, water use plans, briefing information, an attendance roster, and designation of a safety officer. In addition to the violations, no burn plan was prepared for this controlled burn/training.
Related Links:
National Fire Prevention Agency (leaving DEC's site)
