Tuesday April, 6 2021 @ 16:49

Nature: Fire Nature Unknown

Location: ITAO Bay Farm Rd and School Lane Millsboro, DE 19966

On Tuesday, April 6th, the Indian River Volunteer Fire Company was alerted for a fire nature unknown incident in the area of (ITAO) Bay Farm Road and School Lane.  It was identified upon arrival of emergency response units that this was an inappropriate burn incident with residential construction materials.

Emergency response units from Indian River included Tanker 80 from the Oak Orchard facility as well as the Delaware State Fire Police.  Indian River's Deputy Chief arrived onscene and limited response to Tanker 80 and conferred with the property owner.

Emergency response units were authorized via the Officer In Charge to pursue extinguishment of the materials and notified the occupants of the property the proper burn procedures which are illustrated below.

Delaware Open Burning Regulations - https://dnrec.alpha.delaware.gov/air/open-burning/

Delaware’s Open Burning Regulations (7 DE Admin. Code, 1113) define open burning as any outdoor fire or outdoor smoke producing process from which the products of combustion are emitted directly into the ambient air. This does not include incinerators, boilers, or heaters used in process operations.

Five types of open burning activities are allowed by Delaware’s Open Burning Regulation when not prohibited by time of year, air quality condition, the State Fire Marshal, or National Weather Service:

(1) Residential burning of small amounts of yard/garden material by a homeowner.

(2) Recreational burning such as cooking fires, campfires, patio fire pits or ceremonial bonfires by organized groups.

(3) Demolition of structures by intentional burning for the purposes of firefighting instruction.

(4) Prescribed burning for forest and land management.

(5) Agricultural burning for crop residue, field maintenance and land clearing for agricultural operations.