Last Updated:June 23,. 2009

Bonfires Banned in Bayville
• Adam Grohman
On Monday, June 15th, the Bayville village board voted to end the long tradition of bonfires on the beach. As previously reported, the proposed law sparked debate between tradition and liability. Over the July 4th holiday of 2008, a six year old Suffolk County girl was burned when a firecracker was thrown into a bonfire and exploded, landing on her, causing burns. Other concerns raised included whether or not the bonfires and their burned debris were harmful to the environment.
The amendment to the law was passed with a 5 to 2 vote. The legislative intent of the law is to end the "unrestricted burning in any open fire (that) creates unreasonable risks of harm, damage to property, causes air pollution, and is generally an unhealthy and unsafe practice which shall be prohibited." Accordingly, "it shall be unlawful for any person to kindle, build, maintain, authorize, use, allow or otherwise permit any bonfire or other open fire on any beach, street, road, land including property privately owned, or on public grounds within the jurisdiction of the Village of Bayville where such fire may endanger other property or creates an unreasonable risk of harm, air pollution, and is otherwise unhealthy and unsafe except as follows: 1. Outdoor picnic and barbeque fires on residential property in equipment with a total grate area not exceeding ten square feet and designated to use charcoal or equipped with gas burners; 2. Outdoor noncommercial picnic and barbeque fires in equipment provided by and located in Village parks where such fires are permitted by appropriate Village agencies; 3. Official fires used for the training of fire brigades or similar purposes by persons or corporations requiring such training, but only with the approval of the fire marshal; 4. Fires used for special effects for the purpose of television, motion picture, theatrical and for other entertainment productions, but only with the approval of the Board of Trustees.
To further combat the ban, it will be unlawful to accumulate combustible materials. No person shall permit to remain upon any roof or courtyard, vacant lot or open space, any accumulation of waste paper, hay, grass, straw, weeds, litter, wood, or other combustible or flammable waste or rubbish whereby property is endangered." Fines for the new law are stiff.  "Any person who shall violate, or refuse, or neglect to comply with any provision," of the law "shall upon conviction thereof, be punished by a fine of not less than one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500) nor more than two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500), or by imprisonment not exceeding fifteen (15) days, or by both, for a second offense; and by a fine of not less than three thousand five hundred ($3,500) nor more than five thousand dollars ($5,000), or by imprisonment not exceeding fifteen (15) days, or by both, for a third or subsequent offense; and any such person shall, also, for each offense, be subject to the payment of a penalty in the sum of five thousand dollars ($5,000), to be recovered in a civil action brought in the name of the Board of Trustees.

 

 

 

 

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