It’s a burning question in Salisbury Township.

And the Salisbury Township Police Department has the answer: a new ordinance to regulate and enforce outdoor burning.

The ordinance is expected to be on the agenda for a vote to adopt at the 7 p.m. March 10 meeting in the township municipal building, 2900 S. Pike Ave.

“Open burning is prohibited in the Lehigh Valley,” Salisbury Township Police Sgt. Donald Sabo Jr., township fire marshal, said.

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection prohibits open burning.

“The problem has been that people like to burn yard waste and they get around it because of the ambiguity of the ordinance,” Salisbury Township Police Chief Allen W. Stiles said.

The township fire ordinance now on the books is vague, agreed Sabo.

“You can burn for ceremonial and recreational reasons,” Sabo explained.

“Somebody will have a huge bonfire with a hot dog in their hand and say, ‘I’m cooking,’” according to Sabo.

“I think it tightens our ordinance,” Sabo said of the seven-page document, copies of which were distributed to commissioners and reviewed during the Feb. 25 township workshop.

Under the proposed ordinance, Part 1 of Chapter 7, “Fire Prevention and Fire Protection,” would be repealed.

A new Part 1 would be put in place, establishing materials that may or may not be burned, the types of containers which must be used, safety precautions, limitations on fires and penalties for violation of the ordinance.

If convicted of violating any provision of the ordinance, a fine of not more than $300, plus costs of prosecution, could be levied.

When burning is in violation of the ordinance, it can be extinguished by designated township officials, including the fire marshal, fire inspectors, fire chiefs, police officers and building code officials.

Cooking grills, such as a hibachi, gas-fired, charcoal and propane, are prohibited on apartment building balconies or decks and within 10 feet of a structure. Electric ranges and grills are allowed.

Fires in charcoal grills, gas grills and fireplaces for the preparation of food are allowed.

Burning in compliance with the ordinance must be attended to by a person age 14 or older.

Burning is not permitted between sunset and sunrise. If a fire smolders after sunset, it is in violation.

A container used for burning shall not be used or stored within 20 feet of a property line or public sidewalk.

It is illegal to burn materials that give off acrid, obnoxious or toxic odors or emit heavy smoke.

Materials that cannot be burned include: plastic-coated paper, chemically-treated wood, composition board, shingles, felt paper, canvas, fiberglass, vinyl, human and animal waste, sanitary napkins, diapers, food solids, oil filters, grass, green twigs and leaves.

The ordinance lists specifications for burn containers, a container’s metal screen cover, recreational fires and burnable materials.

Special permits for designated events where burning occurs (for example, bonfires) must be applied for no less than 15 days prior to the event.

Burning is prohibited in the event of a burn ban declared by the township or Lehigh County.

“We worked through this for awhile,” Sabo said of the township public safety committee that devised the proposed ordinance. “I think this is a very fair ordinance. It gives permits for exceptions and it’s enforceable,” Sabo said.

Revising the ordinance was prompted by complaints received about residential burning in the township.

“We constantly get calls,” Sabo said.