Mamou council discusses open burning prohibitions

During its monthly meeting Wednesday, January 8, the Mamou Town Council discussed the need for residents to bag leaves so ditches don’t become clogged, causing flooding.
Heavy rains a year ago caused flooding in several areas of town, including the at the elementary and high schools and Savoy Medical Center.
Mayor Ricky Fontenot asked the town’s attorney, Peter Savoy, to clarify an ordinance that was amended in 2012, regarding open burning.
The amended ordinance states a fire used to burn “grass, leaves, brush, or debris” must be “protected by a proper furnace or incinerator.”
Mayor Fontenot said residents of the community have asked him for clarification and asked Savoy if the ordinance could be changed. Savoy said he would have to research more to determine if allowing open fires would present fire safety issues.
People can put leaves in bags that are picked up by trash collection services, but the mayor said some people are raking leaves into large piles at the front of their yards. He said trash collection services don’t pick up those leaves, and wind and rain are washing the leaves into drainage ditches.
The amended ordinance also states local fire authorities must be informed, in writing, when any burning occurs, noting the time and address the burning will take place.
But the main issue was what constitutes a furnace or incinerator. Savoy said the definition would include an enclosure with a cover to prevent fires from spreading to adjacent properties.
The town constructed an incinerator about 1980 where the public could burn leaves and other items, but Savoy said an EPA regulation prohibited continueduse of the incinerator years ago.
The only action taken during the short 10-minute meeting was to approve ordinances setting increased salaries for the town’s gas and water superintendent and the town’s wastewater superintendant.