Fires In Open Air Guidelines
To Report a Fire Call
911
Have your Civic Address
beside your phone.
Be a Part of Community
Fire Watch
Watch For and Investigate any sign of
Smoke
|
Toll Free Muskoka Forest Fire Danger
Rating Recorded Message
1-877-847-1577
|
In times of drought or extreme dryness, the Ministry of
Natural Resources will declare a restricted fire zone in which open air fires including
those set for warmth or cooking or anything else ARE NOT PERMITTED. The Ministry of Natural Resources has the
ultimate jurisdiction and must be adhered to at all times.
Watch for the restriction signal at the Muskoka Information
Centre on the east side of Highway 11 past Severn Bridge and south of the South
Kahshe Lake Road.
At other times, barbeques and fires for warmth or cooking
are allowed without a permit as long as they are not greater than 75cm
(30") in diameter or 90cm (36") in height.
There is an absolute prohibition of open air or yard
incinerator fires within certain areas of the town in accordance with the
Gravenhurst Burning Control By-law.
Otherwise, fires in open air are permitted providing the
following regulations are followed.
Burning Regulations
No person shall set a fire in open air or permit a fire to
burn:
- using other than Class A combustible materials
such as wood, cloth and paper;
- on any
travelled portion of any common and public highway;
- on any
asphalt surface;
- within 15
metres of a structure or vehicle;
- unless
constantly attended by a responsible person until the fire is out;
- without
having apparatus, equipment, personnel and a supply of water at the ready,
sufficient to control the fire;
- under conditions whereby the wind may carry or
expand the fire to another area;
- in such a manner and condition that the smoke
from it impairs the vision of a motorist at a distance of 150 metres or less;
- which includes a fire in a yard incinerator except
from 2 hours before sunset through the night to 2 hours after sunrise;
- unless placed in a single pile less than 2
metres in diameter and less than 2
metres high;
- within 2 metres of flammable materials;
- within 5 metres of any forest;
- in a yard incinerator unless enclosed and
covered by a heavy steel screen mesh
with openings less than 5 mm.
Grass Fires
No person shall set a grass fire or permit it to burn in an
area greater than 1 hectare (2.5 acres) unless a fire permit has been issued by
the Ministry of Natural Resources; or
where the flaming edge is greater than 30 metres.
Contractors may burn in restricted areas with a permit from
the MNR.
Failure to comply with the regulations will result in the
fire being extinguished and charges laid.
If the fire department is dispatched to extinguish an
illegal fire, a service fee of $250.00 will be levied.
Although the MNR no longer issues permits for small scale
burning, their legislation still exists and must be obeyed.
