Burn and Firework Permits

County wide FIRE BAN in effect as of June 1, 2023

No open air burning allowed. All Fireworks and Burn Permits are suspeneded until further notice.

Before you light a fire or set off fireworks in Minden Hills, please review and learn the rules, requirements and restrictions. See By-Law 20-104 - Open Air Fires for more details.

No person shall start a fire outdoors that is larger than 2 meters for the purpose of burning piled wood, brush, leaves or discarded wood products unless a Burn Permit is approved for the site.

Any uncontrolled outdoor fire or improper disposal of ashes, coals or briquettes is the owner's responsibility for any damage to property or injury to persons, and is liable for all costs incurred by the Fire Department.

When can I have a fire?

Residential backyard burning (campfires) is allowed from April 1 to October 31, between 7:00 AM and 7:00 PM with a valid Burn Permit.

When having a campfire, the following conditions must be met:

There are no fire restrictions or fire bans in effect
The fire is located on a non-combustible surface or material
The fire is contained within a metal, rock, brick or other non-combustible fire pit
Smoke from the fire does not cause an annoyance or irritation to adjacent persons, properties or premises
The size of the fire cannot be bigger than one (1) square meter and flames cannot be higher than one (1) meter in height
The fire is not located within three (3) meters of a structure, fence or property line
The fire must be continuously supervised by a competent adult
There are adequate tools and/or water on hand to put out the fire
The fire must be put out and cool to the touch before leaving the fire area

All burning is prohibited during a period of poor air quality or poor weather conditions.

Rules for burning

To burn without a burn permit the following rules must be followed:

A responsible person is available and in attendance at all times until the fire is completely extinguished
The material is burned in a single pile that is less than two (2) meters in diameter and less than two (2) meters high
Only the burning of wood or by-products of wood; no garbage, waste materials, shingles, tar, plastics or other foreign or restricted materials
Fire must be at least three (3) meters from combustible materials, property line, buildings, fences, trees and roadway
The responsible person has tools and/or extinguishing agent adequate to contain and completely extinguish the fire
The fire must be completely extinguished (cool to the touch) before the burn site is vacated
There are no fire restriction or fire bans in effect, such as April 1st till Oct 31st each year
Fire shall not be set 2 hours before sunset and shall be out 2 hours after sunrise
Conditions and the site allow it to burn safely until extinguished
You take the necessary steps to tend, control and extinguish the fire

Fire Bans

A Total Fire Ban means no open air fires. During a total fire ban you cannot light, maintain or use a fire in the open, or carry out any activity in the open that causes, or is likely to cause, a fire. This temporary measure is put in place to prevent human-caused fires when the fire hazard is extreme or when firefighting resources are limited.

During a fire ban all outdoor fires, including charcoal briquettes, wood chip, wood smoke barbeques and wood smokers are restricted. Please wait until the ban is lifted to dispose of ashes and coals.

All Burn Permits are suspended dring a Total Fire Ban.

It is your responsibility to be aware of fire bans, fire restrictions and requirements.

Please contact the Fire Chief for more information.

Burn Permits

Burning requirements are outlined in By-Law 20-104 - Open Air Fires. If you require a Burn Permit, please complete and submit a Burn Permit Application and the associated fee to the Minden Hills Fire Department.

Once submitted and payment is received, a member of our Fire Department will come out and conduct a site inspection and determine if it is a residential, commerical, construction or agricultural type burn.

The Fire Department requires a minimum of seven to ten (7-10) business days to process permit applications.

Burn Permit Applications are suspended during the County Wide Fire Ban. Applications may resume when the Fire Ban is lifted.

Fireworks

Before discharging or setting off fireworks within the Township of Minden Hills, please review and learn the rules and requirements. The safest way to enjoy fireworks is to go to a public display hosted by trained and certified professionals.

Fireworks requirements are outlined in By-Law 20-104 - Open Air Fires.

Fireworks are not allowed during:

any fire ban or fire restriction as set out by MNRF or the Chief Fire Official or designate
winds exceed 25 km or during any conditions considered as an undue fire hazard

Reporting a Fireworks Complaint

If there is a fire or life-safety emergency due to fireworks that poses an immediate danger to someone's health or property, call 911.

When reporting a fireworks complaint, please be prepared to provide the following:

the address or closest address of where the fireworks are or were being discharged
details including if people have been injured
your contact information

Fireworks Permits

If you choose to have a family or an informal neighbourhood fireworks display the following is required:

A fireworks permit issued by the Chief Fire Official or designate

Hosted in a place or in a manner that does not cause danger or constitutes a nuisance to any person or property, clear and open away from buildings, overhead wires and tree branches and away from livestock, animal shelter or wildlife sanctuary or conservation area

Must be away from a highway, road allowance, public beach, or park unless written permission is provided from the Fire Department

200 metres clear of any facility that is designated as a hospital, care facility, educational institute, church or assembly building

Fireworks Application Permits are suspended during the County Wide Fire Ban. Applications may resume when the Fire Ban is lifted.

Once submitted and payment is received one of our team members will conduct a site inspection, site must meet the criteria.

Please note that the Fire Department requires a minimum of fourteen to sixteen (14-16) business days to process permits.

Any persons discharging, setting or causing to be set any device considered a firework without a permit shall be responsible for any damage to property or injury to persons, and be liable for all costs incurred by the Fire Department, including investigating complaints. See our User Fees page for details.

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