St. Marys residents reminded to follow open-air burning rules

The St. Marys Fire Department is reminding residents about the steps that must be taken before having a backyard campfire.

An Open Air Burn Permit is required for all open air burning in town, including backyard campfires and outdoor fireplaces. Residents can apply online at www.townofstmarys.com/burnpermit or in person at the Municipal Operations Centre (408 James St. S). The fee is $25.

The permit requirement is part of the Open Air Burning By-Law, which was enacted by Council in 2017. The by-law provides guidelines for when open air fires can be set, how big fires can be, what materials can be burned, and how far fires must be from structures, like houses and sheds.

The by-law also authorizes the Fire Chief or a delegate to issue an Order to Discontinue Activity and an Order to Extinguish.

“The by-law exists to strike a balance between public safety and common courtesy,” said St. Marys Fire Chief Richard “Andy” Anderson. “It’s nice to have a small campfire for recreational use and warmth. However, we should always be considerate of neighbours that may have an increased sensitivity to smoke and smells in the air.”

The Fire Department reminds residents to never leave a fire unattended, never burn when it is windy and always have a source of water available to extinguish the flames.

Visit www.townofstmarys.com/burnpermit or call the Fire Chief at 519-284-2340, ext. 201 for more information about open air burning.

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For media inquiries:
Richard “Andy” Anderson | Director of Emergency Services/Fire Chief
519-274-3939 | randerson@town.stmarys.on.ca