Don’t get burned by new burning bylaw
Posted Mar 28, 2011 05:23:30 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
There is a newly refurbished bylaw in place to cover outdoor brush burning, just as residents start spring cleaning around their properties Halifax Regional Municipality.
Starting April 1, anyone living in a home which is fully serviced by municipal water and sewer will need a permit under the updated Open Air Burning Bylaw. These properties are typically smaller and are in closer proximity to other homes, making them a more risky location for open fires.
As well, Fire Prevention officer Scott Wheeler says everyone will need a way to contact emergency crews if things get out of hand.
“If there’s no phone on the property you have to have a cell phone,” said Wheeler. “You have to have adequate water supply, shovels, rakes, just in case it gets out of hand. But you do have to have a cell phone to call 911, just in case.”
Outdoor, wood-burning appliances are exempt given a clearance of 15 feet from other combustibles and property lines.
“Those fires are a lot smaller, they’re contained inside the actual unit, but you still have to meet the clearances in the bylaw,” said Wheeler.
The permit is free and can be filled out on the HRM website.
