Ask Howie

[Howie Feltersnatch]

hey,

i want to buy a little portable fire pit (like one you'd find at lowe's or home depot with the fireproof base and screen over it) for my back yard. i've left messages with the local fire dept office, but nobody is returning my call, and the emails are returned as bad addresses. is it common to need a permit or inspection or anything extra to legally have a little marshmallow-roasting camp type fire in a residential neighborhood?

Fire Districts are different, some require actual burn permits, we don't. Some may also require an inspection of fire pits, we don't. Some departments give a shit, we don't. So aside from telling you how fun it is to cause trouble and do hood rat things I may not be much help. Personally it does seem a little ridiculous that they need to inspect a fire pit that is suspended above the surface before you can use it. What I would do is keep the returned letters, document when you attempted phone calls (notebook) and just go ahead with your fire pit. If the department causes a big stink let them know that you had made several attempts to contact them and didn't feel it was neccessary for you to put your personal function on hold for them. If they tell you that the pit is unacceptable, offer to let them buy it for a reasonable (full) price so that you can then purchase an 'acceptable' pit. If the Chief or an Officer give you a hard time about the pit and don't seem to want to cut you a break find someone above them. There is typically a Fire Board or a Township Board that is 'above' the department and would probably hear your complaints.

Good Luck and use plenty of gasoline!