Q-C firefighters receiving fewer illegal burning complaints
Since Moline's burn ban went into effect on Sept. 18, the fire department -- which responds to every illegal burn complaint -- has been called out 23 times.
When called, it sends an engine company with three firefighters, who put out the fire if the resident doesn't, said interim fire chief Ron Miller.
The first time firefighters respond, the resident is informed about the burn ban. The second time they are sent to the same address, the resident is cited and fined $25.
Chief Miller said the number of calls is not excessive compared to past years, when there were no-burn days. The fire department had to respond to complaints then, too.
Rock Island, also facing its first fall with a burn ban, also sends an engine when it gets an illegal burning complaint. Firefighters usually are on the scene for a half-hour, said fire marshal Jeff Hindman.
Since the ban was enacted in December, the fire department has been called out 164 times for various forms of illegal burning, including garbage. Thirty-nine of those incidents were found to be allowable under city ordinance, he said.
Firefighters have issued 84 fines for illegal yard-waste burning and have called police officers seven times to write additional fines, Mr. Hindman said.
If the resident is burning leaves or yard waste illegally, he or she is fined $40.
He said early on in the burn ban, the fire department went on more illegal burning calls than usual. "It has steadily declined throughout the months the ordinance has been in effect," he said. "It will be a reduced number, hopefully, next year as the word gets around we no longer are allowed to burn leaves."
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