Fire Permits

Fire permits are required for open air burning in the Town of Blind River, as per the Ontario Fire Code. These include:

• Any fire set outside larger than 3 Feet
• Burning of brush 
• Campfires (cooking/warmth) (if not in an approved container)
• Construction site fires
• Daytime burning

All open air burning is subject to an inspection of the proposed site by the Fire Chief/Assistant Fire Chief. 

You do not need a fire permit to burn from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. for the following:

• Campfires fires (including those within steel or cast-iron fire boxes) smaller than 3 feet and used for entertainment purposes
• Small, confined cooking/grill fires smaller than 3 feet

Fire permits are valid for one season. View our Open Fire Burning By-law to learn more.
You can now apply online for your burn permit

Get a fire permit

To get a fire permit, please contact our municipal office in-person, by phone or by email at:

Town of Blind River
11 Hudson St.
Blind River, ON P0R 1B0
Phone: 705-356-2251
Email: info@blindriver.ca

OR you can now apply online for your permit

Permit fees

Please view our Municipal User Fees for information on fire permit fees.

Burning regulations

Please review the following burning regulations, rules and penalties. You must abide by all regulations, or you could be subject to fine(s) or legal action.

• Your fire must not be larger than one metre (or three feet) high, one metre wide and 1.2 metres deep
• You must have a minimum of 10 feet clearance from any structure, hedge, fence, vehicular roadway or overhead wire or anything combustible
• You must not set or maintain any fire on any land or premise without the consent of the land's owner
• You must always supervise the fire until it is completely extinguished and provide a means of control and extinguishment. Always keep a bucket of water, sand or shovel close by to extinguish the fire
• Be mindful of your neighbours. You must not maintain a fire when the direction of the wind may cause reduced visibility on a roadway, excessive smoke, or an odour that may cause discomfort to those in the immediate area
• Fires must be built on bare soil or exposed rock. Remove leaves and twigs from around the fire to keep it from spreading
• You must not set or maintain any fire with prohibited materials
• You must not burn grass at any time

Prohibited materials

The following items are prohibited materials under the Open Fire Burning By-law and must not be burnt:

• Animal feces or manure
• Animal carcasses or remains
• Cloth
• Clothing
• Domestic waste, such as food scraps
• Drywall
• Flammable or combustible liquids or accelerants
• Furniture, appliances, and upholstered items
• Grease
• Household plastics
• Industrial materials, such as automobile and truck bodies
• Insulation
• Leaves, unless attached to wood waste, and grass clippings
• Oil
• Paint
• Painted or treated wood
• Plastics
• Rags
• Shingles
• Tires

Burning bans

At certain times of the year and as conditions warrant, the fire chief may issue a complete ban on open air burning. When a ban is issued, all open air burning is prohibited, including fires that don't require permits. Watch our news and notices for burning ban updates.

Penalties

Anyone violating the Ontario Fire Code may be prosecuted under the Fire Protection and Prevention Act. Conviction may result in a fine of up to $25,000 for an individual and $50,000 for a corporation. Failing to comply with regulations may result in:

• Having your privilege revoked
• Being charged under the Ontario Fire Code
• Being charged $410 per hour for each responding vehicle
• All of the above

You may also be subject to fines/penalties stemming from violating the Town's by-laws.

Air pollution

Smoke and odours from open air fires can aggravate respiratory conditions, damage property, reduce visibility and generally lessen the enjoyment of property. Please keep your neighbours in mind when burning.

As per section 14 of the Environmental Protection Act: "No person shall discharge a contaminant or cause/permit the discharge of a contaminant into the natural environment that causes or is likely to cause an adverse effect."