Oelwein Fire Department

Oelwein Fire Department
200 West Charles
Oelwein, Iowa 50662
Station (319)283-5722
FAX (319)283-4342
Home (319)283-5785

Email: Chief Rundle

Founded in 1893, today the department has a total of twenty-five volunteer firefighters and two career personnel. There is a firefighter on duty at the station fifteen hours a day, except weekends. The Oelwein Fire Department is involved with much more than fire fighting. We do many special assignments consisting of lockouts, storm watches, carbon monoxide, confined space rescue, automobile extrication, farm and industrial rescues, unlocking dwellings,
and unusual odors.

The Department has three pumper/engines, one 85 foot aerial ladder truck, one 2000 gallon tanker, one heavy rescue, one special operations unit, and one brush truck.

The two main fund raisers hosted every year are the Fathers Day Omelet breakfast hosted on Fathers Day, and the spaghetti supper held on Saturday at the end of Fire Prevention week. The money made from the fund raisers is used to purchase fire and rescue equipment only.

No Open Burning in Oelwein

Open burning is only permitted in Oelwein during announced times. This s restricted to vegetation that grows on your property and only only in the spring and fall. Please check this website or call the Oelwein Fire Department at 319-283-5722 for the dates of open burning.

No furniture, finished wood, clothing, lumber, building materials, flammable liquids etc. is allowed to be burned.

SECTION 16-80 OPEN BURNING RESTRICTIONS
No person shall allow, cause or permit open burning of combustible materials where the products of combustion are emitted into the open air without passing through a chimney or stack, except that open burning is permitted in the following circumstances:
1. Recreational fires: Open fires for cooking, heating, recreation and ceremonies, provided they comply with the limits for emission of visible air contaminants established by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. Rubber or plastic materials shall not be burned in a recreational fire.
2. Landscape waste: The disposal by open burning of landscape waste originating on the premises during the designated burning seasons each year, provided such burning is conducted in accordance with the following:
A. “Landscape waste” is defined as any vegetable or plant waste except garbage. The term includes trees, tree trimmings, branches, stumps, brush, weeds, leaves, grass, shrubbery and yard trimmings.
B. Time restriction: Burning shall be allowed only on specific days, between 8:00 A.M. and 9:00 P.M., and under favorable atmospheric conditions or local circumstances designated by the Fire Chief and said fire does not create a nuisance, health or safety hazard. (Ord. No. 1072, 10/09/2006)
C. Location: No burning shall be allowed within fifty (50) feet of any structure unless the landscape waste pile is three (3) feet or less in diameter and two (2) feet or less in height, in which case the separation distance shall be a minimum of twenty-five (25) feet from the structure.
D. Attendance: All fire shall be constantly attended by a person who shall assume responsibility for the burning. A garden hose connected to a water supply or other approved fire-extinguishing equipment must readily available at the burning site.
E. Ordered Discontinuance: The fire chief, or his designee, is authorized to order the cessation of the burning if smoke emissions create a nuisance or safety hazard.
3. Trees and tree trimmings: The open burning of trees and tree trimmings at a City-operated burning site, provided such burning is conducted in compliance with rules and emission standards established by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.
4. Disaster Rubbish: The open burning of rubbish, including landscape waste, for the duration of a community disaster period in cases where an officially declared emergency condition exists.
5. Training Fires: Fires set for the purpose of bona fide training of public fire department personnel in fire fighting methods, provided said training fires are conducted in compliance with rules established by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.
6. Prairie Grass and Wildflowers: Prescribed burning of prairie grass and wildflower areas of one-quarter (1/4) acre or larger may be conducted upon prior notification to the Fire Chief and in strict accordance with grant of permission specifying the time and manner in which the burning shall be allowed.
SECTION 16-81. BURN BARRELS PROHIBITED.
No burning shall be permitted in containers. “Burn barrels”, incinerators and similar devices are prohibited. Open mesh receptacles which are comprised of less than 25% solid material permitting observation of the combustible materials and which are otherwise in compliance with this Chapter are not prohibited.
SECTION 16-82. AUTHORITY TO EXTINGUISH.
The City of Oelwein through its Fire Department, Police Department or Public Works Department, is authorized to prohibit and immediately extinguish any open burning occurring within the City that is deemed to violate provisions of this ordinance or to constitute an emergency or a danger to the safety of person or property.
SECTION 16-83. PENALTY. Violation of any provision of this Ordinance shall constitute a municipal infraction subjecting violators to appropriate civil penalties. (Ord. No. 1061, 05-08-2006.)