MOORHEAD - The majority of Moorhead City Council members were opposed to a stricter burn ordinance that would restrict fires after 10 p.m. year round due to concerns of smoke in residential areas.

Complaints from Moorhead residents recently became heightened when continental wildfires sent smoke into Moorhead and aggravated health concerns for some.

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Chad Stangeland, Moorhead Fire Department's assistant chief, suggested something similar to the noise ordinance, which prohibits loud noise from 10 p.m. to 8 a.m.

"For smoke reduction, it's hard to enforce putting those fires out," Stangeland said.

If outdoor fires are following the seven conditions put in place, the fire department cannot ask them to put the fire out even if neighbors are disturbed.

Council member Sara Watson Curry was in favor of the proposed burn ordinance.

"The pollution and the noise can certainly create problems," she said, and suggested extending the burn curfew to later on weekends.

Council members Mari Dailey and Chuck Hendrickson expressed strong opposition.

"I don't feel comfortable policing everything people are doing in their backyards," Dailey insisted, adding that the time frame was far too stringent.

Hendrickson suggested extending the curfew to midnight rather than 10 p.m.

Mayor Del Rae Williams added, "sometimes too many rules can be cumbersome and ineffective."

Stangeland will return to the next council meeting with a revised suggestion after going over the concerns raised at the meeting and receiving feedback from the community.

In addition to the burn ordinance, he also brought up another potential ordinance change involving fire hydrant paint.

The Moorhead Fire Department is suggesting the city paint its private hydrants yellow to distinguish from public hydrants.

"We all like red fire hydrants," Strangeland said. "But it makes it confusing."

Because some hydrants are privately owned, the fire department can't be sure that the hydrant they select is well regulated and therefore can malfunction.

Using yellow - or possibly blue - paint as a distinction would improve efficiency for firefighters, according to Strangeland.

There are about 300 privately owned fire hydrants in Moorhead.

The next council meeting is 5:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 24.