Being a by-law of The Corporation of the Town of Huntsville

prescribing times for setting fires and precautions to be taken.

NOW THEREFORE the Council of the Corporation of the Town of Huntsville enacts as follows:

(1) No fires shall be set in the open air in the Town of Huntsville between the hours of eight o’clock in the morning and six o’clock in the evening during the months of April, May, June, July, August, September and October in each year.

(2) No person shall set out fires in the open air if the pile is greater than two meters in diameter and two meters in height without first obtaining a fire permit from the Fire Department.

(3) No person shall burn grass unless the area to be burned is less than one (1.0) hectare in size and the flaming edge is less than thirty (30) meters in length without first obtaining a fire permit from the Fire department

(4) No person shall set any fire in the open air to burn, or shall burn out of doors, any kitchen garbage, construction materials or materials made of/or containing rubber, plastic or tar.

(5) Without in any way limiting the prohibition set out in Section 4 above, only dry materials shall be burned in fires set in the open air.

(6) No person shall set any fire out of doors except in the presence of a competent adult person and this person shall be in constant attendance at any burning operation so as to prevent same from spreading to or endangering other property.

(7) No person shall set out a fire in an area where it may spread due to grass (except pursuant to Section 3) or other vegetation or a strong wind.

(8) No in the open air burning which causes inconvenience or irritation to others shall be permitted.

(9) No person who has set a fire shall leave the site of a fire set in the open air in the Town of Huntsville without fully extinguishing the said fire.

(10) Every person who starts a fire shall ensure that he/she has adequate tools and water to contain the fire.

(11) All persons setting an open air fire in the Town of Huntsville occasioned by the said fire;

(a) be responsible for any damage to property or injury to persons occasioned by the said fire;

(b) be liable for the costs incurred by the fire department including personnel,

equipment and apparatus necessary and called to extinguish the said fire.

(12) No open air fire shall be maintained when the wind is in such direction or intensity so as to cause any or all of the following:

(a) decrease in visibility on any highway or roadway;

(b) a rapid spread of fire through grass or a brush area.

(13) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 1 to 3 inclusive, the Chief Fire Official may issue a fire permit upon application and approve the setting of any fire subject to the fire being adequately supervised, and any special conditions the chief fire official may request having been met.

(14) A farmer who intends to set or maintain a fire in the open air on a specific day for the disposal of vegetable matter or vegetation on farm lands which is normal and incidental for farming purposes shall be issued a permit to cover the period of the proposed fire, and will be required to notify the fire department for each day of the proposed fire, and to comply with Section 1,6, and 8 to 12 inclusive.

(15) The fire chief or designate is authorized to order any person to extinguish any fire or to cause such a fire to be extinguished when there is a breach of any of the provisions of this by law or where, in his opinion, there is a danger of such fire spreading or otherwise endangering life or property and the person shall comply with any such order.

(16) The fire chief may declare a total ban against outdoor burning when atmospheric conditions or local circumstances make such fires hazardous. Bans against burning shall be advertised though the local media.

To apply for a Day Time Burning Permit please contact the Huntsville Fire Department at 789-5201 Monday – Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.

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Last modified: January 01, 2008