RECREATIONAL FIRES

SHOULD BE FUN, BUT NOT ANNOYING TO NEIGHBORS!

The City of Mound, like many lake area communities has an ordinance that allows residents to have a recreational fire. In most cases, recreational fires create a fun environment for families and friends to enjoy each other’s company, have a lively conversation, or sip a beverage while warming by the fire. 

Throughout the spring, summer, and fall the Orono Police and Mound Fire Crews get numerous callouts for reports of non-compliant recreational fires. In many cases, the reporting party calls 911 to complain about an oversized, unattended, smoky, and non-complaint recreational fire. If the smoke from a recreational fire is drifting next door and is annoying to your neighbors it is considered non-compliant. 

Please, please be a GOOD neighbor and consider where the smoke is going! In general, be courteous and respectful to your neighbors when creating a recreational fire. It is a waste of city resources when police officers and firefighters get called out for non-compliant recreational fires or an unnecessary neighborhood dispute.  

Call Mound Fire Administration if you have questions about the Recreational Fire Ordinance: 952-472-3555.       


The following general requirements shall apply to all recreational fires:

  • The fire shall be attended by a competent, unimpaired adult at all times that smoke is produced from the fire.

  • Equipment to control and extinguish the fire shall be immediately available to the attendant at the site of the fire at all times during burning.  This may include, hand tools, hose lines, and water buckets.

  • A means for summoning the fire department shall be available for immediate use by the attendant.

  • Only wood and starter fuels as defined in this section may be burned in a recreational fire.

  • A fire may not be started or continued in situations where prevailing winds or other factors create unsafe conditions or direct smoke toward nearby residences.

  • A fire area may not be more than 3 ft. in length and the flame must be a maximum of 2 ft. high.

  • A permanent fire pit shall be located at least 25 feet from any structure or combustible material. 

  • A portable fire container shall be located at least 15 feet from a structure or combustible material.

  • Recreational fires may be conducted between 7:00 a.m. and 2:00 a.m.


Recreational fires shall not be allowed, if any of the following conditions exist:

  • A fire hazard exists or develops during the course of the burn.

  • Pollution or nuisance conditions develop during the course of the burn.

  • The fire is left unattended, or the attendant is impaired.

  • The fire is allowed to smolder with no flame visible and is unattended.

  • Any of the conditions listed are violated during the course of the burn.