Open Burning Regulations

Open burning is permitted under certain conditions within the Brownsburg Fire Territory, as permitted by Indiana State Law and town ordinance.  

Brownsburg-General Regulation

92.075 Certain Burning Prohibited. No person shall kindle or maintain any bonfire or burn leaves, trash, rubbish, debris, garbage, trimmings or dangerous materials or dispose of same by burning, or shall knowingly furnish the materials for a fire, or authorize any fire to be kindled or maintained on or in any street, alley, road, public grounds, or private land.  This section shall not prohibit the use of outdoor fire for home cooking or for recreational purposes in a public park so long as the fire is confined in a permanent facility specifically provided for that purpose and is supervised by one or more adults at all times.

92.076 Permitted Fires;
(A) The following types of fires are permitted with prior approval of the Fire Chief or the Fire Marshal:
        (1) Fires used for celebrating Twelfth Night Ceremonies.
        (2) Fires used for celebrating school pep rallies.
        (3) Fires used for celebrating Scouting activities.
        (4) Fires used for recreational or cooking purposes.

(B) All exempted fires, including fires for cooking or recreational purposes shall be subject to the following:
        (1) Only wood products shall be burned.
        (2) Fire shall be attended at all times, until completely extinguished.
        (3) If fires create an air pollution problem, a nuisance, or a fire hazard, they shall be extinguished.
        (4) No burning shall be conducted during unfavorable meteorological conditions, such as temperature inversions,
             high winds air stagnation, and the like.

(C) Burning with prior approval of the Fire Chief or the Fire Marshall maybe authorized for the following:
        (1) Burning of refuse consisting or material resulting from a natural disaster.
        (2) Burning for purposes of fire training.

A Burn Permit must be applied for in person at either Fire Station or Headquarters.

Fire Investigations and Arson

By Indiana State Law (I.C. 36-8-17.7 & I.C. 22-14-2-8),  Brownsburg Fire Territory is responsible for investigating all fires that occur within the territory  boundaries. The Fire Marshal or his designee on any  incident will perform an investigation as law requires. 

The general mission of the Investigation Unit will be to assist in the enhancement of life safety and record property damage by providing skilled, professional assistance in identifying the origin, cause and circumstandances of fires occurring within the area served. 

Investigators may respond at anytime during an incident when there may be questions regarding the origin and cause of a fire. This does not automatically mean that fire is of suspicious origin or may have been caused maliciously by a human being.  

It is the responsibility of the investigators to accurately determine the true cause of the fire, which in many cases may be purely accidental. This is accomplished by searching for: 

· The human element (smoking, over fusing)
· Faulty equipment (heating, electrical)
· Natural causes (lightening, spontaneous combustion)
· Animals (knocking over items)
· Incendiary  

In the event that a fire is determined to be suspicious in nature, the fire investigators work very close with Brownsburg Police Department and/ or Hendricks County Sheriff’s Department, the County Prosecuting Attorney, and the Indiana Department of Homeland Security (State Fire Marshal office) 

If the party is found guilty he or she may serve up to 20 plus years in prison on the charge of arson in accordance with the State law. 

If you may have any information about a fire that occurs within Brownsburg Fire Territory that you believe was intentionally set; you may anonymously call 317-852-1190 or 1-800-382-4628 you may be elible for a reward of up to $1000.00 ask to speak with Fire Marshal

Juvenile Firesetter Program

Mission Statement
To offer a fire education program to juveniles who have set fires or been suspected of setting fires and to be a resource for the community concerning juvenile firesetters.

Goals

• Evaluate juveniles and their families to determine the juveniles level of risk for firesetting
• Provide free fire prevention for juveniles and their families
• Help juveniles and their families meet other needs (counseling, social services, etc.) by referring them to other resources

Process
Parent(s) or caregiver(s) arrange an evaluation of the juvenile.  Evaluations are done with parents and juvenile.  After the evaluation a course of action is planned for the juvenile based on the juvenile’s fire risk.

Please call Capt. Stephen Shaffer and Lt. Ryan Miller at 317-852-1190 are you may email scshaffer@brownsburgfire.org or rmiller@brownsburgfire.org to arrange for an evaluation or for more information.

Definitions
Juveniles – children under 17 years of age

Fire interest – asking questions about fire, such as how hot is fire, what makes fire burn.  Usually children between 3 – 5 experience this.

Firestarting – children experiment with ignition sources such as matches and lighters.  Approximately 6 – 12 years old

Firesetting – behavior of intentionally setting fires.  Approximately 10 – 17 years old

Arson – recklessly or intentionally setting a fire, that may cause damage or injury to another person.  State statues outline the specific circumstances that classify firestarting and firesetting as arson

Classification of juveniles:
Little Risk – curiosity and experimentation motivates; if receive proper supervision and education intervention the children are of little risk for future firestarting.

Definite Risk - Troubled juveniles; juveniles starting fires to bring attention to their psychological distress.  Emotional conflict can motivate the firesetting

Information
Fire interest in children is almost universal.  Children of all ages are involved in fire setting behavior.  Although curiosity about fire is natural, setting fires is not. Children who set fires may have one or more of the following characteristics:

• have little fire knowledge
• are curious
• are impulsive
• are nonverbal/performance learners
• have learning disabilities
• have been physically or sexually abused
• are anxious and traumatized
• are socially awkward and isolated
• are sad and depressed
•  find it hard to communicate with words
• are angry and hostile
• feel rejected and abandoned
• are thrill seeking
• are violent and aggressive
• have a serious mental illness

Children are fascinated by fire; warm glow of a fireplace, flames flickering in a camp fire, blowing out birthday candles, watching the repetitive habit of an adult lighting a cigarette.  Children as young as 2 years old may show interest in fire.  Parents/caregivers must take fire safety precaution with younger children and educate them in fire safety.  Parents must train older children in fire safety.  This can be done with fire prevention programs and parents demonstrating fire safety precautions.

Warning Signs or Red Flags concerning Firesetting:

About the Child -

• Child has ADHD and family is having trouble managing this problem
• Child has had fire safety education, knows that firesetting is wrong and is 8 or older
• Child is the victim of physical, emotional, or sexual abuse
• Child experiences an anxiety release from fires
• Child has intense feelings of powerlessness or has trouble controlling impulses
• Child has been severely punished for firesetting
• Child is a member of a gang or has a history of aggressive criminal behaviors
• Child relies extensively on thinking errors and is extremely uncooperative with assessment
• Child has been unsuccessfully treated for firesetting; the family is unable or unwilling to support intervention

About the Behavior –

• Fires are set to specific materials related to stress
• Recent changes in the family
• Chronic history of firesetting with progression
• Bizarre or ritualistic firesetting
• Uses fire to torture/injure animals, self, or others
• Obsessive/compulsive thoughts/behaviors

Facts & Figures (National Fire Protection Agency)

• Most of the people killed in child-playing fires are under 5, and such fires are the leading cause of fire deaths among preschoolers.
• Roughly two out of every three child-playing fires – and three out of four associated deaths and injuries – involve matches or lighters
• Children also start fires by playing with candles, fireworks, stoves, and cigarettes.
• Among fatal home fires started by children playing, seven out of 10 involve children igniting bedding, mattresses, upholstered furniture or clothing.
• Just over half of child-playing fires in the home start in the bedroom.
• Children who start fires may be children in crisis, with the fires acting as cries for help from stressful life experiences or abuse, according to studies of fire-setting behavior.

Please call Capt. Stephen Shaffer and Lt. Ryan Miller at 317-852-1190, are you can email scshaffer@brownsburgfire.org  or rmiller@brownsburgfire.org to arrange for an evaluation or for more information.   

Home Page