Ontario’s fire season starts today with the province's rules for outdoor burning coming into effect. It goes to Oct. 31
Last summer was one of the worst forest fire seasons on record with 4,400 square kilometres burnt. The 10-year average is about 1,600 sq. km.
This summer could be worse, with little snow over the winter. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry is still looking for firefighters this summer, with the deadline to apply by April 15.
If you live in Timmins and plan to have a recreational open-air fire you'll have to buy a $25 permit, which is good until Dec. 31. They are sold by Service Timmins on weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Here are some other things to know about residential fire permits in Timmins:
Approved pits
- A covered pit bought from a retailer such as Canadian Tire or Home Depot is considered an approved pit.
- If burning in a ground pit, it can be no larger than two feet by two feet, with some type of scene above to prevent sparks and ash from escaping.
- The approved device must be at least 10 feet away from adjacent properties.
- Fire pits must never be used on a wooden deck or patio.
When can you burn?
- 7 p.m. to midnight.
- Open-air burnings are not allowed when the wind is more than 15 kilometres per hour.
- It is recommended that people with a residential permit limit burning to the weekend.
What can you burn?
- Clean wood such as small logs, twigs.
- You cannot burn garbage, grass, pressure-treated wood, leaves, screws or other metal, plastic or accelerant like gasoline or lighter fluid.
- You are not allowed to burn your lawn with a residential permit.
