Milwaukee alderman pushing for ordinance regarding fire pits

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- The current open burning regulations in Milwaukee have some homeowners steaming mad -- and now, one Milwaukee alderman is pushing for stricter limits on fire pits.

"Mostly in the nighttime when it gets a little chilly out we will come out and start a fire. Nothing special -- a little gathering with some friends," Eddie Muniz said.

Fire pits are becoming more popular, but Milwaukee Alderman Terry Witkowski says with homes relatively close together, some in the city feel fire pits are a nuisance.

"If you are doing this in your backyard and the smoke comes to your neighbor's house they can`t move. There are people who have trouble breathing to start with and once the smoke enters the house it`s too late to close their windows. They don`t have a refuge in their own home," Witkowski said.

Witkowski says he has gotten several complaints about folks coming in contact with noxious smoke and says the problem isn't only proximity but sometimes what is being burned.

Witkowski is now proposing a substitute ordinance regulating fire pits.

"People are burning anything that burns. We`re putting it under the Noxious Fumes Ordinance so that if you do have smoke going into your neighbor's house, that neighbor can contact the Commissioner of Health or the Commissioner of Neighborhood Services and have that investigated. The people will be sent a letter or will be contacted telling them what the law is," Witkowski said.

On a subsequent offense, that person can file a complaint, go to court and the offender will be fined.

"We are asking people to be thoughtful of their neighbors," Witkowski said.

The proposed substitute ordinance will be considered by the Public Safety Committee on Thursday.