NASSAU COUNTY, Fla. — Neighbors in Harbor Concourse are concerned about burning next door as developers clear the way for a new neighborhood to be built.
The process is called ‘air curtain incinerator burning,’ according to the Florida Forest Service.
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“Which has made it at times kind of like a forest fire outside,” Mark West said. He has dealt with the burning next door for about three months.
West’s daughter has autism and was born with fluid in her lungs. They normally use the neighborhood playground for stimulation.
“Those are activities we avoid when the smoke’s present,” he said because of respiratory concerns.
Commissioner Aaron Bell told Action News Jax’s Robert Grant when he went to visit the neighborhood, “It was awful. You couldn’t even be outside.”
Neighbors shared pictures of ash on cars and in pools.
Fernandina Beach neighbors say burning at a new development next door for months is leading to health concerns in their neighborhood.
— Robert Grant (@RobertANJax) November 5, 2021
On @ActionNewsJax at 11: why the state says this is legal and how a commissioner is stepping in to stop it. pic.twitter.com/WC4CffYg2Z
“It’s an awful smell. You get it in the house. You go out the back and smell it,” Marlene, another neighbor, said.
The Florida Forest Service said it is aware of the situation in Fernandina Beach.
A representative said staff have been out to investigate and said the site, which is being developed by Century Communities, is within compliance.
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Developers across the state use a similar technique to clear debris. The Forest Service said burning must be at least 300 feet from the nearest home.
Bell said it’s typically cheaper for developers to clear land this way versus hauling out. But he is trying to change that rule in Nassau by banning future burning countywide with several new developments popping up.
He said it’s a health concern for his constituents.
During an emergency meeting on Oct. 25, Century Communities agreed to stop burning until a meeting on Nov. 8 when commissioners are expected to discuss a new burn ordinance with the developer.
In a statement to Action News Jax, Century Communities said, “Century Communities is committed to being a good neighbor in every community we serve, and we will be in this neighborhood as well. We look forward to ongoing conversations with community groups, so all parties are satisfied.”
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