It’s been a few years, but fire antics have returned to the area behind 335 Pleasant and 341 Eureka Avenues.  They went on into the next morning. The fire was still smouldering at 7:30 am.

Here’s a video clip, taken shortly after midnight:

That fire is a few feet from a wooden border fence and clearly illegal. Here’s the law:

Herkimer Village Local Law No. 3 of 2003, Section 2, defines prohibited burning in the village:

1-12 Definitions

(a)    Open Fire:  Shall mean any fire or smoke-producing process wherein the combustion products are directly emitted into the atmosphere.

(b)   Stack:   Shall mean any lawful conduit, chimney, duct, vent, or flue arranged to conduct gases or gas-borne products to the other air.

 Prohibited Burning

 1-13  No person shall burn any garbage, rubbish, or solid waste in any open fire except as permitted by provisions set forth herein.

 Permissible Burning

 1-14  When not prohibited by law, regulation, ordinance, or State officials having jurisdiction, such as the State Commission of Conservation or the State Commissioner of Health, the following types of open  burning are permissible:

 (A)   Outdoor grills and fireplaces for the purpose of preparing food.

(B)   Camp fires and fires used solely for recreation purposes when such fires are located at least one hundred (100) feet from any dwelling, structure, or vehicle and are properly controlled and supervised by the Herkimer Fire Department.

I called 911 at 9:51. The operator asked me why I thought the fire was illegal. I cited the law. He said he’d send the police. If he did, they had no effect.

This is a highly flammable village, with many trees and close-packed old, dry houses. We’ve lost people to fires in the last few years, three of them children. 

The partygoers all appear to be the guests of Carrie Ann Bass of 341 Eureka, as indicated by the presence of her son Harvey, visiting for the event. Bass is a notorious scofflaw noted for, among other things, her weaponized parties.

Carrie Ann Bass Hosts Party At Herkimer’s Historic Child Trafficking Hub

The Fire Next Time

The next time this happens, and it will, I and my law-abiding neighbors would appreciate a firm police response. 

Stay safe, Herkimer. And make sure you’ve paid your fire insurance.