Man Burned Plastic in Fire That Produced ‘Heavy Black Smoke,’ Odor, Police Say

A Bethlehem man is being cited for an alleged violation of the Lower Saucon Township burning ordinance, after police say he conducted an open burn at the rear of 3752 Old Philadelphia Pike Sunday afternoon that generated heavy black smoke.

In a news release issued Wednesday, police said Orlando Selpa, of the 200 block of Hobart Street, was found to be burning plastic “which was causing the black smoke and putting a strong odor into the air” near the intersection of Seidersville Road and Old Philadelphia Pike shortly before 6 p.m.

According to the township’s nuisance ordinance (Ch. 112-5, Enumeration of Nuisances, Item V.) posted on its website, “any burning activity that shall cause odor or smoke to travel across property boundaries which would be determined a nuisance to an ordinary individual” constitutes a violation of the ordinance.