Air curtain destructors to be required for open burns in Columbia

Monday, July 21, 2014 | 10:08 p.m. CDT; updated 8:42 p.m. CDT, Tuesday, July 22, 2014

COLUMBIA Developers clearing land in Columbia will now be required to use devices known as air curtain destructors when performing open burns.

The Columbia City Council voted unanimously Monday evening to withdraw proposed changes to the city's open burning ordinance. In place of the ordinance changes, the Columbia Fire Department will adopt an internal policy requiring an air curtain destructor be used on any open burn that calls for a Missouri Department of Natural Resources permit.

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Air curtain destructors are placed over an open burn and function similar to large exhaust hoods. Vacuums in the air curtain inhale and filter the smoke and release cleaner emissions in the air.

A report issued by the Columbia Fire Department at the July 7 council meeting outlined suggested changes toCity Council bill 101-14, which would place increased restrictions on open burning on development sites.

The report recommended maintaining the current definition of open burning and requiring a permit for any fire with a fuel area of larger than 3 feet wide and 2 feet high. Fires smaller than this are considered recreational fires. The responsibility for inspecting and permitting open burns would remain with the Fire Department.

The Fire Department report also recommended requiring the use of an air curtain destructor for any open burn performed to remove the vegetative waste from clearing an area of 1 acre or greater.

Air curtain destructors will be required for open burns performed within 200 yards of the nearest inhabited dwelling for land-clearing operations smaller than 1 acre.

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Air curtain destructors to be required for open burns in Columbia