Pawtucket council debates outdoor-burning setbacks as it advances fire-prevention ordinance

The Pawtucket City Council considered substitute A to an amendment of Chapter 2.10 of the Pawtucket Code of Ordinances (Fire Prevention Code) that would regulate outdoor burning and cooking. The committee reported that the ordinance had been revised to add safeguards and to better align with state fire code.

Council discussion focused on setback distances between a fire and nearby structures. Several councilors and the committee chair discussed reducing the setback from 50 feet to smaller distances (30 feet and other ranges were mentioned); committee members said additional safeguards — such as requiring a water source (hose) on site and clarifying prohibited materials — were added to address safety.

The fire chief (addressed in the discussion) said changes were made to align with state fire code and that the amendments were intended to give the department tools to address misuse while not broadly banning safe practices. A councilor asked whether drought conditions (noted by the chief) would affect enforcement, and the chief said dry conditions would be considered and that the ordinance included measures to address conditions when burning should not be allowed.

The committee moved the substitute for first passage on a roll-call vote; the transcript excerpt contains detailed discussion and committee recommendations but does not record a final roll-call result for the first-passage motion in the provided portion of the transcript.

What happens next: The ordinance was presented as a substitute and committee members indicated they would monitor implementation and be open to future changes if needed.