Community Emergency Response Teams

The Town Council has had preliminary discussions regarding a CERT program for the Town of Weddington. The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Program educates people about disaster preparedness for hazards that may impact their area. The program is designed to train citizens in basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations.

If you are a citizen of Weddington and would be interested in joining a CERT or would like to help in forming a CERT program in Weddington, please call the Town Hall at 704-846-2709 or send an email with your contact information to amy@townofweddington.com. 

If there is enough interest in the community to start a CERT, we will notify all the interested citizens of the first meeting. This meeting will be an open forum, available to all citizens interested in learning more about the CERT initiatives for Weddington.

If you would like more information on the CERT program, please go to this government web site that is dedicated to CERT: http://www.citizencorps.gov/cert/index.shtm

NORTH CAROLINA OPEN BURNING RULES

The Open Burning Rule is one of North Carolina's oldest air quality regulations, first adopted in 1971. The rule prohibits most outdoor burning and sets conditions for allowable fires. Under the rule, it is always illegal to burn trash and other non-vegetative materials. Leaves, branches and other plant growth can be burned under certain conditions. Violators can be fined up to $25,000 or more.

The yard waste must originate on the site and the allowable time for burning is 8 am to 6 pm. Stumps and logs over 6 inches in diameter may not be burned. No burning may occur if the Air Quality forecast is Code Orange, Red or Purple. Some important rules to follow if you burn include:

  • Open burning may include burning leaves, branches and other plant material . It is illegal to burn trash, lumber, tires, newspapers, plastics or other non-vegetative materials. Such burning can produce toxic air pollutants.
  • Don't burn on dry, windy days.
  • Be prepared before burning. Keep fire tools available. To control a fire, you will need a garden hose, a bucket, a steel rake and a shovel for tossing dirt on the fire. Never use kerosene, gasoline, diesel fuel or other flammable liquids to speed burning.
  • Always stay with the fire until it has been extinguished.

Permits are not required for fires that are within 100 feet of an occupied dwelling provided the fire is either confined within an enclosure from which burning material may not escape or it is within a protected area upon which a watch is being maintained and which is provided with adequate fire protection.

The following power point presentation presents more information about Open Burning in NC: daq.state.nc.us/enf/openburn/OpenBurningPresentation.ppt

Burning in North Carolina is regulated by the North Carolina General Statutes 113- 60.21 through 113-60.31 and 15A NCAC 2D.1901.