Blaze Landscape, located at W220N5859 Town Line Rd, Lisbon , WI 53089, (next to Casey's and Silverspring  Intermediate  school) is executing frequent and massive burnings of plant debris that they haul in from landscape work. Instead of disposing of it appropriately by hauling to disposal site, they have opted to burn large piles, some reaching 20 ft tall and 30 ft wide 24/7 for weeks at a time. It is probable some of the material had been sprayed with pesticide. This hazardous practice causes detrimental smoke and soot to permeate surrounding neighborhoods, school playgrounds, and athletic fields; specifically impacting Templeton Middle School, Silver Spring Intermediate School, Hamilton High School and Halquist Athletic Field which are all just a few hundred yards from the burn site.

I live 1/4 mile from the site (further than the schools) and I witness the remnants of these large burnings, including soot on snow in my yard and getting a sore throat and cough when working in my yard. My neighbor has been getting asthma attacks from the smoke. This is a clear sign of the particulate matter from Blaze Landscape's extended periods of burning; a blatant health hazard for all residents and students. Widespread inhalation of such particulates is associated with respiratory, heart issues, increased cancer risk among other health problems. Children, the elderly and pregnant women are particularly vulnerable. This is well documented by numerous research studies. Here are links to a few: National Institute of Health: Health effect of particulate matter​ ; American Lung Association: hazards of particulate-matter ​; EPA: Heath Risks of Particulate Matter from smoke​; Journal of Medical Toxicology: Health effects of PM​; Yale Medicine: How bad is smoke?

Blaze does have a conditional use burn permit from the village of Lisbon; however, because of the size of the fire they require and the close proximity of the site to residential properties and schools, they can not comply with its conditions and violate those conditions almost every time they burn. The size of the fire makes it impossible to keep the smoke inside the boundaries of the Blaze property, to extinguish it each night, and to have someone continually attend the fire. They burn 24/7 for weeks at a time and workers leave the premise by 700PM or earlier. They violate these conditions of the permit and have been cited, but pay the fine and continue to burn:

34.25 (c) No fire shall be conducted or permitted which results in smoke to be spread beyond the property lines that are offensive to neighboring property owners or to create a nuisance for others. If the smoke or heat created by such burning is an annoyance or causes discomfort to the neighborhood or traveling public it shall be ordered extinguished upon complaint.”

34.25 (I), 4,5,6(4) The burning activity must be continuously supervised by an adult property owner or occupant of the property.(6) Burning shall be permitted only when winds do not exceed nine miles per hour as reported by the National Weather Service during the entire period of burning.

conditional use permit: i (c) i :  Burning: 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Monday – Friday (they burn overnight unattended)

The primary concern is the health and safety of our community, particularly those of our children attending the aforementioned schools.  The current situation warrants a revoking of the burning permit of Blaze Landscape  by the town of Lisbon and a ban on burning at that site.

If you share this concern for the health of our community, please join me in signing this petition. Together, we can urge local authorities to intervene and protect the health of our children and neighborhood. 

Steps you can take immediately:

1. If you are bothered by the smoke or see it going onto school grounds, you can call Lisbon police (262) 446-5070 and cite the 34.25 (c). Blaze is  suppose to extinguish the fire, but it is too big and Blaze does not have resources to do that, so the officer will want to just give a ticket. This will be recorded which will become evidence with the Village board that it is a community hazard. If you demand the fire be extinguished you can ask the officer to call the fire department to  extinguish it and according to the village ordinance, Blaze will be charged.

2. Fill out a complaint on the Village of Lisbon website. To find the complaint form search "complaint" on the site and it will take you to the general complaint form. you will need to create an account there to submit it.

3. If you live in Menomonee Falls notify village board members of Menomonee Falls of your concern.

4. Sign the petition which i will be sharing with the Lisbon village board

I will be keeping everyone who signs the petition updated through the change.org app.