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Nazareth, Pa., United States

Monday, November 11, 2024

NorCo Council Adopts 30-Day Open Burn Ban, With Exception of Easton Bonfire

At their Thursday night meeting, with the recommendation of both the District Forester as well as a dozen county fire chiefs, NorCo Council adopted a 30-day open burn ban that covers the ignition and subsequent burning of any combustible material (garbage, leaves, grass, twigs, litter, paper, vegetative matter or any sort of debris) out-of-doors either in a burn barrel, fire ring or on the ground. The use of propane gas stoves, charcoal briquette grills or tobacco in any form is not covered in the resolution. Campfires in fire rings which confine and contain the fire are allowed in designated state, federal or Department of Environmental Protection licensed campgrounds.

At the request of Council members Jeff Corpora and John Goffredo, an exception was granted for Easton High School's annual bonfire so long as the local fire company and police department agree, 

Executive Lamont McClure noted that the county received only 0.02 inches of rain in October, A wildfire sparked in the Blue Mountain in early November went through 600 acres of forest lands before being contained. 

NorCo EMS Director Todd Weaver told Council that since October 1, there have been 140 burn complaints and 76 dispatched brush fires. There have also been 29 smoke odor complaints. 

Council member Tom Giovanni asked Weaver what someone can do if he is driving along a highway and sees someone flick a lit cigarette onto the roadway sand dry grass beyond. Weaver answered that if you get the plate number, contact local or state police, who will cite the offending driver. He added that DCNR can also hold someone who starts a brush fire completely liable for the cost of suppression. 

19 comments:

Anonymous said...

And McClure is even whining about that. Does the guy ever check his massive ego at the door?

Anonymous said...

Giovanni is a stone cold moron, and hopefully their exception won’t burn half the County to the ground.

Anonymous said...

"Weaver answered that if you get the plate number, contact local or state police, who will cite the offending driver." - Good luck with that! You will have to appear in court to testify just to watch the judge throw it out after a harsh (laughable) warning. Waste of time. Society doesn't believe in consequences for your actions anymore, everyone is a victim.

Anonymous said...

This County Council is so much more than a Do Nothing County Council. It’s when they do things, it’s actually bad for the public. I blame John Brown’s desire to once again punish County employees by ruining their health insurance.

Anonymous said...

With his little hands, would Goffredo light the match in these current conditions ?

Anonymous said...

I suppose county democrat leaders are wishing they had done this a week prior.

Because they were absolutely torched on Election Day.

Also, I guess we won’t be getting any articles about how dysfunctional you think the NorCo GOP is for a little while.

Anonymous said...

Your last sentence is spot on Donald Trump has changed our culture we now live in a Darwinistic society

Anonymous said...

The only burn I see is Democrats getting totally smoked on Election Day.

Anonymous said...

a lot of sick democrats Trump has them wild

Anonymous said...

There should be NO bonfire!

Anonymous said...

That stinking Easton-P’Burg game dictates everything. You can’t even mention having two high schools and middle schools because the talk immediately turns to one game. One. Newsflash: sometimes traditions are altered.

Anonymous said...

one thing we will never forget is who screwed us on our medical benefits as employees and also retirees. Yes John Brown screwed us, but so did other County Executives as well as County Council members. we have long memories. Both Democratic leadership and Republican leadership stuck it to us. We will be organized and we will vote!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

He's not in office yet. Yet here you go

Anonymous said...

When did county employees lose their healthcare and why wasn't it reported here?

Anonymous said...

Exception for EAHS bonfire? In this weather? I’m sure the students would be traumatized, don’t want to miss this “formative experience”, and probably would have be provided safe spaces and meditation rooms if Palmer Township exercises common sense and protects the land and the people by saying “No.” Surely the Easton school district taxpayers must be thrilled at paying the increased school water bill to wet down the field for weeks before the game. Maintaining the fields in season for sports is one thing, coddling students for a humongous bonfire is something else. How about a bonfire-less pep rally with the band and football team and everyone brings a dollar to fund a donation to some worthy Easton charity. That would be a formative experience.

Anonymous said...

Trump’s crude behavior and hatred to divide the country started long ago and he succeeded

Bernie O'Hare said...

Because it did not happen.

Anonymous said...

You really sound uneducated. Wetting what field? Easton v P’Burg game is played on turf. And you do realize that this is monitored and controlled by fire fighters? Grow up.

Anonymous said...

Read the stories before you make uninformed, insulting remarks. EASD officials have said they are watering the grass fields adjacent to the high school where the bonfire is held, not Fisher Field where the game is played. I won’t call you a dumbass———-oh, sorry.