Emergency Ordinance Establishes Criminal Penalty For Open Burning During Suspended Periods
From the Mayor's Office:
5/24/2022
Anchorage, AK – Mayor Dave Bronson applauds the Anchorage Assembly for passing an emergency ordinance establishing a misdemeanor criminal offense for open burning during suspended or prohibited periods.
The emergency ordinance states that it is unlawful for any person to 1) cause open burning on property of another person at a time when open burning is suspended or prohibited, or 2) to permit any open burning on public land to continue in that person's presence without calling emergency services, when open burning is suspended or prohibited.
A violation would result in a class A misdemeanor and is punishable up to one year in jail and a $10,000 fine.
“The Anchorage Fire Department has responded to numerous illegal burns over the past few weeks, many of which have spread from their original location and required significant fire resources to extinguish, including assistance from the State of Alaska and other fire agencies." said Mayor Bronson. “We are currently experiencing extreme fire danger and need additional mechanisms to deter illegal burning in Anchorage and ultimately ensure the safety of all of our residents. This emergency ordinance will allow the Municipality more tools to combat illegal fires that pose a threat to life and safety."
This emergency ordinance (attached) is immediately effective and will remain in place for sixty (60) days.
An additional ordinance was introduced to make this codified in Anchorage Municipal Code that is set for public hearing on June 7th.
