BURNING PERMITS AND REGULATIONS

Download the Burning Regulations
Download Burn Permit Application

OPEN AIR/BRUSH PILE BURNING - Permits Issued November 1 through March 31
INCINERATORS - Permits Issued Year Round
CAMP FIRES - Permitted as per By-Law #2572-98
SEE REGULATIONS BELOW

GENERAL

All persons setting an open air fire in the City of Dryden shall first obtain a fire permit from the City of Dryden Fire Service pursuant to the following:

- The permittee shall ensure that all conditions will allow the fire to burn safely from start to extinguishment.
- The permittee shall be present at the site of the fire at all times.
- The person in charge of the burning operation conducted under the permit shall produce and show the permit to any officer whenever requested by that officer.
- Ensure that the means of extinguishing the fire as designated on the permit form is available at the site at all times during the fire.
- The material to be burned shall be limited to wood or by-products of wood.
- The material to be burned must be at least thirty (30) metres from any building, structure or lot line.
- Not permit more than two (2) cubic metres of material to be burned at any one time in a residential area.
special consideration may be given by the Chief Fire Official or designate to permit up to six (6) cubic metres of material at any one time conditional upon a 60 metre distance requirement from any building or structure, strictly in an open field and with a sufficient water supply to suppress the fire.
- Burning must comply with the Ontario Environment Protection Act.

- No open air fire shall be permitted when the wind is in such direction or intensity to cause any or all of the following:
a. smoke which causes annoyance or irritation to adjacent properties or premises
b. a decrease in visibility on any highway or road
c. a rapid spread of fire through grass or brushed area
d. when wind velocity exceeds 25km. (15 miles) per hour.
e. The fire must be completely extinguished before leaving scene.

- Extinguish the fire by the time specified in the fire permit or, if a permit is canceled or suspended, the permittee shall extinguish the fire immediately.
- All persons setting an open air fire in the City of Dryden, at the discretion of the Fire Chief or person authorized by the Chief Fire Official, may be held:

a. responsible for any damage to property or injury to persons occasioned by the said fire;
b. liable for costs incurred by the fire department, including personnel, equipment and apparatus necessary called in to extinguish the said fire.

- Any person who contravenes any of the provisions of this by-law shall be liable to a penalty of not more than $5,000 exclusive of costs, as set out under The Municipal Act, R.S.O. 1990, c M.45, Section 320, or to a lesser amount wherever penalty is limited by statute to any lesser amount, exclusive of costs, and all such penalties shall be recoverable under the Provincial Offenses Act, R.S.O., c P.33.

Regulations for Open Air Burning

INCINERATORS

Permit fee $10.00 plus G.S.T. (Annual fee per location)

No person shall be permitted to operate an outdoor incinerator unless:

- the incinerator is an enclosed device constructed entirely of non-combustible material and is no more than one (1) metre in diameter and no more than one (1) metre in height;
- the outlet of the incinerator is covered with a screen having mesh size of not more than five millimetres;
- the incinerator is located at least fifteen (15) metres from any building, structure or lot line;
- the incinerator is located at least five (5) metres from any forest or woodlands;
- the incinerator is located at least two (2) metres from any combustible materials;
- the regulations listed under "General" are adhered to.

*Note: Incinerator burning will not be permitted when the Ministry of Natural Resources has declared this area as a Restricted Fire Zone (RFZ).

BRUSH AND TREES

Permits for brush burning can be obtained between November 1st and March 31st each year.
Residential permit fee $15.00 plus G.S.T. (Annual fee per location)
Industrial/Commercial permit fee $50.00 plus G.S.T. (Annual fee per location)

No person shall be permitted to burn brush or trees unless:

- the fire is located at least five (5) metres from any flammable materials or combustibles;
- the material is piled in a single pile less than two (2) metres in diameter and less than two (2) metres in height;
- the regulations listed under "General" are adhered to.

*Note: Brush burning will not be permitted when the Ministry of Natural Resources has declared this area as a Restricted Fire Zone (RFZ).

CAMPFIRES

No person shall be permitted to start a campfire outdoors unless:

- all conditions will allow the fire to burn safely from start to extinguishment, all necessary steps to tend the fire and keep the fire under control are taken and that the fire is extinguished before leaving the site;
- the camp fire does not exceed one metre in height and one metre in diameter;
- the camp fire is at least three (3) metres from any forest or woodland and the area within the three (3) metre radius is completely free of any combustible/flammable materials and the space immediately above the fire installation (one (1) metre radius) is at least three (3) metres from any overhanging vegetation and the fire is fifteen (15) metres from any building, structure or lot line;
- there is a minimum 100mm of non-combustible material surrounding the radius;
- the regulations listed under "General" are adhered to.

Campfire Burning Regulations

No open air fire shall be maintained when the wind is in such direction or intensity to cause any of the following:

- Smoke which causes annoyance or irritation to adjacent properties or premises;
- When wind velocity exceeds 25 km. (15 miles) per hour
- A person who starts a fire outdoors will ensure that all conditions will allow the fire to burn safely from start to extinguishment, take all necessary steps to tend the fire, keep the fire under control, and extinguish the fire before quitting the site.

Any person starting a fire for cooking or warmth will ensure that the fire does not exceed one metre in height and one metre in diameter.

The fire installation is at least 3 metres from any forest or woodland and the area within the 3 metre radius is completely free on any combustible/flammable materials and the space immediately above the fire installation (1 metre radius) is at lease 3 metres from any overhanging vegetation and the fire is 15 metres from any structure or property line.

A non-combustible material minimum 100mm shall surround the radius.

This information in no way relieves your responsibilities to neighboring properties and to burn in the prescribed manner. No person shall allow a fire kindled or attended by them to escape their control. Failure to burn within the requirements of the law may result in a citation and you may be liable for all fire suppression costs.

*Note: Campfires will not be permitted when the Ministry of Natural Resources has declared this area as a Restricted Fire Zone (RFZ).

OUTDOOR FIREPLACE REGULATIONS

No outdoor fire shall be maintained when the wind is in such direction or intensity to cause any of the following:
- smoke which causes annoyance or irritation to adjacent properties or premises;
- when wind velocity exceeds 25km (15 miles) per hour.

A person who starts a fire outdoors will ensure that all conditions will allow the fire to burn safely from start to extinguishment, take all necessary steps to tend the fire, keep the fire under control and extinguish the fire before leaving the site.

The fireplace installation shall be at least 3 metres from any forest or woodland and the area within the 3 metre radius is completely free of any combustible/flammable materials and the space immediately above the fireplace installation (1 metre radius) is at least 3 metres from any overhanging vegetation and the fire is 3 metres from any structure or property line. The fireplace shall be placed on a non-combustible material no less than 1 metre in diameter. The outlet or chimney of the fireplace shall be covered with an approved manufacturer's spark arrestor cap or with a screen having a mesh size of not more than 5 millimetres.

The material to be burned shall be limited to wood or by-products of wood.

This information in no way relieves your responsibilities to neighbouring properties and to burn in the prescribed manner. No person shall allow a fire kindled or attended by them to escape their control. Failure to burn within the requirements of the law may result in a citation and you may be liable for all fire suppression costs.

*Note: Outdoor fireplaces will not be permitted when the Ministry of Natural Resources has declared this area as a Restricted Fire Zone (RFZ).