Town of Franklin Declares a Fire Danger Emergency

PRESS RELEASE (11-30-2021)

TOWN OF FRANKLIN

DECLARATION OF A FIRE DANGER EMERGENCY

WHEREAS, weather or other conditions exist which may make the open buming of any substance unduly hazardous and a danger to public safety, and in conjunction with the North Carolina Forest Service's bum ban which was instituted on November 29,2021 at 5:00 p.m. the Mayor has declared a "Fire Danger Emergency"; and

WHEREAS, as a result of the above-described emergency I have determined that there is an imminent threat of, or existing conditions may cause or could cause, widespread or severe damage, injury, or loss of life or property; and

WIIEREAS, declaring a Fire Danger Emergency and imposing the restrictions and prohibitions ordered herein is necessary to maintain order and protect public health, safety, and welfare, and to secure property.

NOW, THEREFORE, pursuant to the authority vested in me as the Mayor of the Town of Franklin under Article A of Chapter 166-4 of the North Carolina General Statutes and Chapter 34 of the Town of Franklin Code oF ordinances:

Section 1. A Fire Danger Emergency is hereby declared within the jurisdiction of Franklin.

Section 2. The emergency area covered by this state of emergency shall be the town limits of the Town ol Franklin and its extraterritorial jurisdiction.

Section 3. The following restrictions and prohibitions are imposed 

a. All open buming of any substance shall be prohibited within any or all of the Town of Franktin until such time as the bum ban declaration from the North Carolina Forest Service has been rescinded; and

b. Open buming means the intentional buming ol any substance, whether natural or manmade, or the intentional casting offofany burning substance, whether natural or manmade, except the buming of such substance in a container sufficient so as to prohibit the escape of any of the buming substance, or any sparks, flames or hot ashes from the container; and

c. The escape of any of such burning substance, or the escape of any sparks, flames or hot ashes from any such container shall be deemed prima facie evidence that the container was insuffrcient so as to meet the exception from the definition of an open buming set forth herein.

d. The maintaining of a fire in any interior fireplace, stove or fumace is specifically excluded from the definition of an open buming as contemplated by this declaration. 

Section 4. I hereby order all Town of Franklin law enforcement officers, employees, and all other emergency management personnel subject to our control to cooperate in the enforcement and implementation of the provisions of this Declaration, all applicable local ordinances, state and federal laws, and the Town of Franklin Emergency Operations Plan.

Section 6. This declaration shall take effect on November 30 at 9:00 a.m., and shall remain in effect until modified or rescinded.

DECLARED

Mayor Robert S. Scott