By STACY MILLBERG

Staff Writer

smillberg@starbeacon.com

Fall seems to be the time of year when the smell of burning leaves travels through the air, but residents should know Ohio's open burning regulations as well as their community's regulations before lighting that foliage on fire.

The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency defines open burning as any outdoor fire burning without a chimney or stack. Open burning can be a problem due to various toxic fumes released from burning materials.

Leaves and plant materials send millions of spores in the air when they catch fire, causing many people with allergies to have difficulty breathing. The pollutants released by open burning also make it more difficult to meet health-based air quality standards, especially in or near large cities. The gases released by open burning can also corrode metal siding and damage paint on buildings, according to the EPA.

Ohio law restricts the burning of various materials. These materials include garbage, materials containing rubber, grease, asphalt or items made from petroleum such as tires, cars and auto parts, plastics or plastic-coated wire and dead animals, according to the EPA.

Open burning is not allowed when air pollution warnings, alerts or emergencies are in effect. Fires cannot obscure visibility for roadways, railroad tracks or air fields. Waste generated off the premises can not be burned. For example, a tree trimming company may not haul branches and limbs to another site to burn, according to the EPA.

EPA does make exceptions to the restrictions under certain circumstances, but requires written permission before burning begins.

Communities reserve the right to regulate open burning, but local ordinances cannot be less strict than the state law, according to the EPA. Most communities in the county regulate open burning according to EPA guidelines.

Open burning is allowed under certain circumstances, the trick is knowing the limitations and whether the burning site is in a restricted area. Restricted areas include areas within the boundaries of any municipal corporation; areas within corporation limits and a 1,000-feet zone outside any municipal corporation having a population of 1,000 to 10,000; and, areas within corporation limits and a one-mile zone outside any municipal corporation with a population of more than 10,000, according to EPA. Villages and cities are considered restricted areas.

There are a few types of open burning that are permitted in restricted areas. Cooking fires are permitted within city and village limits.

"(Cooking fires) are the only thing (residents) are allowed to do legally in the city," said Ashtabula Fire Chief Ron Pristera.