Township residents now require fire permit for any open air burning

Huron-Kinloss council has approved an open air burning bylaw which means all residents must purchase a permit prior to conducting any kind of fire.

This includes a special permit to have a fire at the beach. Cost of the permit is an annual fee of $10.

A press release from Ripley-Huron fire chief Chris Cleave states that the bylaw was approved Dec. 19, 2016, and requires every township resident, regardless of fire department jurisdiction, to obtain a fire permit from the township office before conducting any open air burning.

Additionally this bylaw requires any property owner and/or tenant to obtain a beach fire permit to have a small fire on any beachfront within the township boundaries.

Recreational fires (campfires) on your own property for cooking and warmth purposes, are exempt from the requirements of a permit as long as they are contained in an approved fire pit, conducted safely and meet the size requirements of the bylaw.

The new bylaw also prohibits the sale, purchase, possession and ignition of “Flying Lanterns.”

“Having a fire permitting process in place is an enhancement to fire safety and fire prevention within the township," said Cleave "This process gives the fire departments a direct opportunity to provide public education to our residents, which is one of the primary goals of the fire department; and to better account for where controlled burns are occurring at any given time in the township.”

Some of the requirements of the new bylaw are:
 

• Recreational fires that are one-metre-by-one-metre-by-one-metre are allowed on your own property or property for which you have permission to use, and do not require a permit
• All recreational fires must be in an approved fire pit
• All open air fires are required to have an annual permit issued before an open air burn can commence
• All open air burn permits must be applied for, and will cost, an annual fee of $10
• Open air burns are prohibited in all settlement areas, except recreational fires
• Once a permit is issued, the permit holder must notify the fire department of jurisdiction prior to igniting any fire (contact information is on the permit)
• All beach fires are required to have an annual permit
• Beach fires may not be any larger than one-metre-by-one-metre-by-one-metre
• Beach fire permit holders are responsible to ensure that all beach fires are completely extinguished and the area is covered and cleaned upon completion of the fire
• A person must be 18 years or older to apply for a permit
• The set fines for offences under the new open air burning bylaw, are $250

“Fire permits are not intended to unnecessarily restrict burning but rather to assist property owners to burn safely and in compliance with the various provincial and municipal laws that apply," said Cleave. "Responsible burning involves more than just applying for a fire permit. It’s important to know what is acceptable to burn and what is not; and to ensure the fire is supervised and under control at all times.”

For questions or further information about the new bylaw regulations, contact Cleave at the township office during regular business hours: 519-395-3735, Ext. 164;. or by E-mail at: ccleave@huronkinloss.com

For general information, to apply for an open air burn permit and/or reporting your open air burning to the fire department, visit the township website at: www.huronkinloss.com/open-air-burning.cfm