FRANKFORT — As cooler temperatures move into Clinton County, Frankfort Fire Department Deputy Chief Josh Uitts is reminding residents to get heating equipment inspected, check smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, and follow the city’s open burning ordinance.
Uitts spoke on WILO’s Party Line, filling in for Fire Chief Matt Stidham.
Heating equipment
Uitts said people will soon start using furnaces, fireplaces and wood-burning stoves that have sat unused since spring. He recommended having chimneys inspected and cleaned, and having a professional clean and inspect furnaces before use.
“It’s just like, you know, having the oil changed in your car,” Uitts said. “It’s just another piece of equipment that has to be maintained.”
He said a broken part or blocked flue can put carbon monoxide into a home without the residents knowing.
Uitts said space heaters are fine if they are used correctly. They need properly sized, heavy-duty extension cords, and cords should not be covered. Heaters should be unplugged when not in use. He said the department does not recommend heating a kitchen by turning on the oven and opening the door. Kerosene and propane heaters should not be used indoors because of the fumes.
Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors
The department does not recommend a specific brand, and it is fine to buy either combination or separate smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Uitts said the main thing to look for is a UL (Underwriters Laboratories) tested label on the package. Detectors with a built-in 10-year battery are convenient, he said, but not required.
The department recommends:
• At least one smoke detector on every level of the home
• Detectors near the kitchen, in hallways by bedrooms, and in the attic and basement
• Carbon monoxide detectors where people spend a lot of time, near heating equipment, and in homes with gas or LP appliances
Uitts called smoke detectors “a really cost effective insurance policy.”
Open burning ordinance
Fall also brings leaf burning and fire pits. Uitts said the city put its open burning rules into local law in 2014. Under that ordinance and the department’s guidance:
• Fires cannot be left unattended.
• Burning garbage is not allowed.
• Only natural materials such as wood can be burned. No man-made products.
• Burning is not allowed after dark. Uitts said this rule is meant for brush fires, not campfires.
• Fires cannot be built on asphalt streets.
• Recreational fires must be in a contained area, such as a fire ring or landscaping blocks, and kept a minimum safe distance from homes, garages and other structures.
Uitts said firefighters will not stop to put out a campfire that meets these conditions.
The rules also apply outside city limits. Uitts said townships that contract with the department for fire protection agree that their residents will follow the city’s open burning ordinance. A 2025 burn ban notice from the city lists those areas as Center, Jackson and Union townships and portions of Washington Township.
Frankfort Ordinance 14-08a also allows a burn ban “during times of drought, high winds or any conditions that could contribute to a fire being spread.” The fire chief can also stop open burning that creates a hazard under Indiana Fire Code Section 307.1.1. Last year, Stidham issued a burn ban on Oct. 1, 2025, during dry conditions.
Uitts said illegal burning is generally not a big problem in Frankfort. Leaf pickups are scheduled in the city for residents who would rather not burn.
Harvest season and new brush truck
The department has a new brush truck, which Uitts credited to Center Township. It replaces a 1991 truck, which the department will keep as a backup. Uitts said the old truck had a front bumper that firefighters rode on, which current NFPA safety standards no longer allow. The new truck has a remote-controlled front nozzle that is operated from inside the cab.
Crews inspected both grass rigs during Tuesday’s weekly equipment check to prepare for harvest. As of the interview, the department had not had any harvest-related fire calls. Uitts said this year’s rain has helped compared with last year’s dry conditions. He added that the department often gets grass fires along the side ditches of Interstate 65.
Hiring and a new firefighter
Wednesday was the last day to submit firefighter applications. Uitts said more than 30 had been turned in.
Sam Michael, a Frankfort native who recently came back from the U.S. Marine Corps, was hired a few weeks ago. He is now completing 80 hours of probationary training, which is required before he can ride on a fire truck or work a shift.
Uitts has been with the department for 27 years. He said he applied in the 1990s after his distant cousin, firefighter Kevin Catron, encouraged him while they both worked for the late Phil Stoops.
First Responder Appreciation Day
First Responder Appreciation Day will be held Saturday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at TPA Park. It will include a Battle of the Badges softball tournament between Frankfort police, the Clinton County Sheriff’s Department, Clinton County EMS and the fire department, which is fielding two teams. Coffee and doughnuts will be served from 8 to 11 a.m. and lunch from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., while supplies last. There will also be bounce houses and giveaways.
Fire Prevention Month
October is Fire Prevention Month. Uitts encouraged families to:
• Make a home escape plan and pick a meeting place outside
• Never go back into a burning building
• Remember stop, drop and roll
• Teach children to call 911 and to know their home address
He said today’s homes contain more synthetic materials than they did 20 years ago, so fire conditions “change much more rapidly.” Firefighters are visiting schools throughout October to teach fire safety.
The Frankfort Burning Ordinance includes the following items:
- Approved Fuel: You may only burn clean, natural growth wood, charcoal, natural gas, propane, or alcohol-type fuel (like Sterno).
- Size Limits: The physical dimensions of the fire cannot exceed 3 feet across and 2 feet high.
- Enclosure: The fire must be contained within a non-combustible enclosure.
- Setback Distance:
- Standard open burning must be at least 50 feet away from any structure.
- Recreational fires must be at least 25 feet away from any structure.
- Supervision: The fire must be attended at all times by a responsible person.
- Extinguishment: An adequate means of putting out the fire (such as a garden hose or fire extinguisher) must be present on-site.
- No Nuisance / Complaints: The fire department will require an open fire to be extinguished immediately if they receive any complaints from neighbors.
- Decks and Balconies: Cooking with any flame-producing device is strictly prohibited on decks, balconies, or underneath roof overhangs.
- Trash Burning: Burning trash, litter, rubbish, plastic, or processed/treated lumber is illegal under broader state and local regulations.
- Emergency Burn Bans: Under Ordinance 14-08a, the Fire Chief is legally authorized to declare a comprehensive burn ban during periods of high winds or extreme drought. When a burn ban is active, all outdoor fires—including recreational campfires, yard debris, and fireworks—are temporarily prohibited within city limits and served townships. You can check for active emergency restrictions directly on the Frankfort Fire Department Facebook Page.
