05/16/2023
To everyone in the St James/Lanark Village Fire District, please be aware that there is an ordinance in place restricting ALL outdoor burning. This does not affect a grill for preparing food as long as it is continually monitored. This ordinance was put into place approximately a year ago by the Franklin County Board of County Commissioners , due to the lack of fire services in the St James/Lanark District. Please be mindful of the ordinance as safety is our utmost concern.
See the full ordinance text below:
FRANKLIN COUNTY. FLORIDA EMERGENCY ORDINANCE 202- /
AN ORDINANCE OF FRANKLIN COUNTY, FLORIDA, DECLARING AN EMERGENCY, IMPOSING ATEMPORARY BAN ON OUTDOOR FIRES IN THE LANARK - ST. JAMES
FIRE PROTECTION AND RESCUE SERVICES DISTRICT IN FRANKLIN COUNTY, FLORIDA, AS THAT DISTRICT IS DEFINED IN ORDIANCE 2013-1; CREATING EXCEPTIONS, IMPOSING A PENALTY; AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE
WHEREAS, the St. James-Lanark Village Volunteer Fire Department, Inc., has ceased responding to fire protection and rescue services 911 calls within the Lanark St. James Unit; and
WHEREAS, at present, the primary fire protection and emergency rescue services for the Lanark-St. James Fire Unit are provided by the Carrabelle Volunteer Fire Department; and,
WHEREAS, outdoor fires pose a great danger of causing wildfires and damage to persons and property; and,
WHEREAS, the Board has determined that it is the best interest of the public's health, safety and welfare to ban outdoor fires within the Lanark - St. James Unit; and,
WHEREAS, during its regular meeting on May 3, 2022, the Board has determined, by a 4/5's vote of the membership, that an emergency exists, that it waives the usual notice requirements for the adoption procedures ofthis ordinance and that the immediate enactment of this ordinance is necessary,
IT IS ORDAINED THAT:
1. Presentconditions offire protection and rescue services within the Lanark St. James Unit, as defined by Ordinance 2013-1, have caused an emergency condition necessitating a temporary ban on outdoor fires within the Lanark-St. James Unit.2 Al outdoor fires are hereby immediately banned within the Lanark-St. James Unit, except for above ground self-contained cooking grills that are, at al times during ignition, attended to and monitored by at least one responsible adult person. The use of charcoal briquettes are allowed in the cooking grill, provided that they are thoroughly extinguished with water immediately after use in cooking.3
Without limitation, this burn ban means that outdoor fires in burn barrels or fires that are not contained, such aleaf pile or pile of wood, are banned for the period of time that this emergency ordinance is in effect.
4.5 6.
A violation of this ordinance shall be a misdemeanor of thesecond degree, punishable by a fine not to exceed $500 or by imprisonment in the county jail not to exceed 60 days, or by both such fine and imprisonment.
This Ordinance shall be effective immediately upon adoption and placing it on file with the Clerk of Court and filing with the State of Florida.
This ordinance shall remain in full force and effect until rescinded by ordinance.
This Ordinance was adopted by at least a4/5's vote of the membership of the Board of
County Commissioners ofFranklin County, Florida, waiving the ordinary enactment procedures, declaring that an emergency exists and that the immediate enactment of this ordinance is
necessary.
Adopted on this the 3rd day of May, 2022.
ATTEST:
By:
Mechlel Michele Maxwell, Clerk of Courts Approved as to form:
BychamasM.
Thomas M. Shuler, County Attorney
FRANKLIN COUNTY, a political Subdivision of the State of Florida
Rile
D
By: RicksO. Jones. UsChairman
