Planning a small fire? The Ontario Fire Code requires that all open-air burning must be approved by Fire Services.
Contact Fire Services at 949-3377 Monday to Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. to arrange for a no-charge fire permit. A Fire Prevention Officer will perform a site inspection, at which time conditions for approval will be reviewed. Site visits are currently scheduled for Tuesdays and Fridays.
Approval guidelines address such issues as material to be burned, distances from structures and combustible materials, weather conditions, and so on. Someone must stay with the fire at all times until it is completely extinguished and equipment must be available to extinguish the fire in the event that it gets out of control or is causing an adverse effect.
Sault Fire Services has recently added a significant condition to the open-air burning permit process. A permit will not be issued unless the homeowner agrees to allow the Fire Prevention Officer to check the home’s smoke alarm.
If smoke alarms are working and all other terms of approval have been met, an open-air burning permit is issued that is valid for the calendar year. Once the permit expires the following year it is the owner’s responsibility to renew the permit, which, in most instances, may be done over the telephone.
Once issued, all conditions of the permit must be adhered to, failing which the permit may be revoked temporarily or permanently. Charges may be laid for failure to comply with conditions or failure to obtain a permit, and fines can be significant.
Obtaining authorization to have an open-air fire does not relieve an owner from the obligation to comply with the Environmental Protection Act of Ontario. While burning, there is an obligation to ensure that smoke does not interfere with the ability of neighbours to enjoy their properties.
Tenants are reminded that written approval of the homeowner will be required prior to issuance of a burning permit for rented properties.
OPEN-AIR BURNING PERMITS POLICY
The following guidelines are to be strictly adhered to by a person or persons doing the burning:
1. Open-air burning shall not be permitted unless approved, or unless such burning consists of a small, confined fire, supervised at all times, and used to cook food on a grill or barbecue.
2. Burning must cease prior to 11 p.m.
3. Burn only dry material. All other material such as petroleum products, plastics, rubber, painted lumber etc., that will cause excessive smoke or fumes (MUST NOT BE BURNED). Mixed demolition debris is not suitable for open-air burning.
4. Keep the fire at an approved distance from any structure and/or any combustible material (trees, grass, woodpiles, etc.).
5. Burn less than 1 cubic metre of material at a time.
6. Stay with the fire at all times until it is completely extinguished.
7. Equipment and resources must be available at the burning site to extinguish the fire, in the event that the fire gets out of control or is causing an adverse effect.
8. Open-air burning must not be conducted under the following weather conditions: during rain or fog (smoke cannot disperse properly); when wind speeds are high or wind direction changes frequently (fire may spread rapidly).
9. Common courtesy for your neighbours is expected (clotheslines, open window, etc.). If we receive a complaint, the Fire Services must respond and the permit may be cancelled and/or the fire extinguished.
10. Open air burning will not be approved for Industrial or Commercial occupancies.
OPEN AIR BURNING IS APPROVED UNDER THE ABOVE NOTED RULES AND CONTRAVENTION OF THESE RULES MAY RESULT IN PROSECUTION UNDER THE ONTARIO FIRE CODE.
Whenever the Ministry of Natural Resources has a ban on burning, all permits in Sault Ste. Marie are cancelled until such time that the ban has been lifted.