Seasonal Fire Safety

​Fireworks

The safest way to enjoy fireworks is to attend a professional fireworks show. If you do choose to hold a family fireworks show, please do so safely.

Every year thousands of people, most often children and teens, are injured while using consumer fireworks. 

If you do choose to discharge fireworks, please visit Fireworks Application for more details. 

Visit the Office of the Fire Marshal website to learn more about fireworks safety. 

Campfires

Closely supervise all outdoor fires. Make sure the fire is out before leaving the area. The campfire must be at least 7.5 metres (25 feet) from buildings, vegetation, overhead wires, all other combustibles and property lines. 

Avoid burning on windy, dry days. It is easier for open burning to spread out of control when it is windy and dry.  Supervise children around any fire outdoors, including campfires, fire pits, chimineas, and outdoor fireplaces. 

Visit the Office of the Fire Marshal website to learn more about campfire safety. 

Recreational Campfire Permits

Non-approved Burning Devices such as fire pits, campfires and fire rings require a Recreational Campfire Permit.   

Small controlled fires in an Approved Burning Device do not require a permit.  

Please visit Campfires & Open Burns for more information.

Agricultural Open Burns

Avoid burning on windy, dry days. Embers from open burning can ignite nearby structures or cause a brush fire. 

Never burn plastics, construction debris, treated lumber, tires, pesticides, paint, or aerosol containers. These items contain toxins that can be harmful to people and animals when burned.

Open burns are regularly called in and an enforcement officer may prohibit any open-burn activity at your property if they believe it to be unsafe. The municipality may also take further enforcement action if you are not complying with the requirements.

Visit the Office of the Fire Marshal website to learn more about how to safely burn.

Agricultural Burn Permit

All agricultural open-air burns require an Open Air Burn Permit. 

It is your responsibility to ensure you are aware of, and fully comply with, the requirements of the Open Burn By-law.

Winter and Holiday

Your risk of having a fire can increase dramatically over the holidays. Statistics show that in Ontario, 1 in 3 fire deaths occur during the months of November, December and January. 

For information on preventing home fires, visit the Office of the Fire Marshal website at the links below:

Cottages and RVs

Cottages and RVs burn too! Install smoke alarms on every storey and outside all sleeping areas. It's the law for all Ontario homes, cottages, cabins and seasonal homes to have working smoke alarms on every storey and outside all sleeping areas.

If you have any fuel-burning appliances, a fireplace or an attached garage install a working carbon monoxide alarm.