Last month’s colorful leaves are today’s yard waste.
In Hannibal, people deal with the dead leaves on their property in different manners. Many will take a traditional approach and burn their leaves. But that can lead to neighborhood unrest.
“Leaves put off a lot of smoke and especially as wet as it’s been this year. They’re not totally dry so they smolder a little longer and they put off more smoke than they would if they were dry,” said Capt. Charles Paxton of the Hannibal Fire Department.
When firefighters are called to check out smoke from a leaf fire, they have the authority to issue a citation, according to Paxton.
“As long as someone is trying to abide by the rules we don’t issue a summons,” he said. “When it’s a blatant disregard for them that’s when a summons is usually issued.”
According to city ordinances, burning yard waste at this time of year is permitted between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. The fire must be on the leaf-burner’s property, rather than in a public right-of way, such as a street or alley, or on someone else’s property.
“We’ve gotten a few calls from a couple of different areas of town where they have been burning leaves in the street,” said Paxton.
The fire must be manned by a “competent” person over the age of 16. A fire extinguisher or garden hose must be nearby. The blaze must be at least 50 feet from buildings and structures, which includes sheds and wooden fences.
Even if all those guidelines are adhered to, firefighters can still be called to put out someone’s leaf fire.
“If we get a call or complaint we’re required to come check it out. If the nature of the complaint is there is smoke and they don’t know where it’s coming from, and they have a legal burn we normally don’t put it out,” said Paxton. “If it’s a decent day outside and people have their windows open and smoke is coming inside their house from a neighbor’s fire, then we either ask the person to put it out or we’re required to put it out. Even though they have a legal burn the smoke is being a nuisance to somebody.”
That guideline applies to everyone, including members of the fire department. Acting Fire Chief Bill Madore was recently legally burning leaves in his yard when he was approached by some of his fire department comrades who had received a smoke complaint. Despite the fact Madore was in compliance with all city burning guidelines, his fire had to be extinguished.
Instead of burning their leaves, there are some in Hannibal who choose to push them into the gutter or drainage ditches.
“That causes multiple problems,” said Susan Osterhout, a property maintenance inspector for the city. “If it’s on a hill they’ll flow down to your neighbor and then they’ll be upset. If it keeps going down the hill it’s going to end up blocking the stormwater drainage and somebody is going to have to come and clean it out. It just creates a lot of havoc.”
Osterhout reports having seen piles of leaves left in streets that are 6 feet tall and 14 feet long.
“They think that the street sweeper can pick them up, and they can’t. It just clogs up the sweeper if they’re more than a few inches deep,” she said.
Persons raking their leaves into the street will typically receive a warning letter from the city. If they repeat the property maintenance violation they are subject to a city citation, which carries with it a $224.50 fine.
Residents who choose to rake and bag their leaves can dump them at no charge in the designated area at the Hannibal Street Department’s yard waste site, located on Seventh Street. The city announced earlier this month that the dropoff area will remain open the entire month of November. The hours of operation are from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Mondays through Friday. Saturdays the site will be staffed from 8 a.m. until 12:30 p.m.
Those using this service are asked to empty their leaves, rather than leave full leaf bags or containers behind.
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Last month’s colorful leaves are today’s yard waste.
In Hannibal, people deal with the dead leaves on their property in different manners. Many will take a traditional approach and burn their leaves. But that can lead to neighborhood unrest.
“Leaves put off a lot of smoke and especially as wet as it’s been this year. They’re not totally dry so they smolder a little longer and they put off more smoke than they would if they were dry,” said Capt. Charles Paxton of the Hannibal Fire Department.
When firefighters are called to check out smoke from a leaf fire, they have the authority to issue a citation, according to Paxton.
“As long as someone is trying to abide by the rules we don’t issue a summons,” he said. “When it’s a blatant disregard for them that’s when a summons is usually issued.”
According to city ordinances, burning yard waste at this time of year is permitted between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. The fire must be on the leaf-burner’s property, rather than in a public right-of way, such as a street or alley, or on someone else’s property.
“We’ve gotten a few calls from a couple of different areas of town where they have been burning leaves in the street,” said Paxton.
The fire must be manned by a “competent” person over the age of 16. A fire extinguisher or garden hose must be nearby. The blaze must be at least 50 feet from buildings and structures, which includes sheds and wooden fences.
Even if all those guidelines are adhered to, firefighters can still be called to put out someone’s leaf fire.
“If we get a call or complaint we’re required to come check it out. If the nature of the complaint is there is smoke and they don’t know where it’s coming from, and they have a legal burn we normally don’t put it out,” said Paxton. “If it’s a decent day outside and people have their windows open and smoke is coming inside their house from a neighbor’s fire, then we either ask the person to put it out or we’re required to put it out. Even though they have a legal burn the smoke is being a nuisance to somebody.”
That guideline applies to everyone, including members of the fire department. Acting Fire Chief Bill Madore was recently legally burning leaves in his yard when he was approached by some of his fire department comrades who had received a smoke complaint. Despite the fact Madore was in compliance with all city burning guidelines, his fire had to be extinguished.
Instead of burning their leaves, there are some in Hannibal who choose to push them into the gutter or drainage ditches.
“That causes multiple problems,” said Susan Osterhout, a property maintenance inspector for the city. “If it’s on a hill they’ll flow down to your neighbor and then they’ll be upset. If it keeps going down the hill it’s going to end up blocking the stormwater drainage and somebody is going to have to come and clean it out. It just creates a lot of havoc.”
Osterhout reports having seen piles of leaves left in streets that are 6 feet tall and 14 feet long.
“They think that the street sweeper can pick them up, and they can’t. It just clogs up the sweeper if they’re more than a few inches deep,” she said.
Persons raking their leaves into the street will typically receive a warning letter from the city. If they repeat the property maintenance violation they are subject to a city citation, which carries with it a $224.50 fine.
Residents who choose to rake and bag their leaves can dump them at no charge in the designated area at the Hannibal Street Department’s yard waste site, located on Seventh Street. The city announced earlier this month that the dropoff area will remain open the entire month of November. The hours of operation are from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Mondays through Friday. Saturdays the site will be staffed from 8 a.m. until 12:30 p.m.
Those using this service are asked to empty their leaves, rather than leave full leaf bags or containers behind.
