NEENAH, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – These are the days of camping, cookouts and outdoor recreation. But in some Fox Valley communities, those campfires can’t happen without a permit.
From Appleton to Oshkosh, Neenah and Menasha — those four Fox Valley communities all require recreational burn permits.
“I had no idea that we need to get that. We’ve lived here for four years and I had no idea,” said Danielle Van Sickle of Neenah.
All residents in those cities who plan to have recreational fires, like a campfire, in either a fire pit in the ground or a portable pit, need to have a permit before striking a match.
“The big reason behind the recreational fire permit is to make sure people understand the rules on how to be safe when they do have one of these recreational fires at their home,” said Asst. Chief Adam Dorn with Neenah-Menasha Fire Rescue.
The permits range from $15 in Oshkosh to $30 in Appleton.
Some residents are questioning why there is a fee for something they do on their own property.
“There’s no extra insurance. My home owners insurance is up to date and it will cover my issues, if I have an issue. It’s just, there’s really no reason for it other than to get extra money. There’s no benefit whatsoever,” said Eric Wallace of Oshkosh.
Neenah officials tell FOX 11 the money from the permits goes into the city’s general fund and helps to pay administrative costs, as well as fund fire prevention education.
The fire department says education is the key, as the permits and their process help to keep residents and the community safe.
According to Dorn, “Some people don’t understand that if you’re going to be burning in a recreational fire, you need to use clean, dry wood. It can’t be treated. It can’t be painted. You can’t burn trash or plastic or all this different stuff, it needs to be clean untreated wood.”
Neenah-Menasha Fire Rescue says it’s not out actively looking for recreational burns in the city limits. But, if it gets a complaint, it will check it out, and make sure residents who are burning recreational fires have the proper permitting.
“We trust our community that they’re following the rules, that they’re taking the safety precautions that we’re asking them to. And then, if there is an issue that we do find or is brought to our attention, then we’ll address that,” added Dorn.
Citations and fines are possible, Dorn says, but usually only in cases of repeat offenders.
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