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The nice weather has resulted in some bad burning habits in Brockville

Brockville firefighters are doing a slow burn after spending the weekend chasing down complaints that were often the result of unauthorized outdoor fireplaces within city limits.

“Any outdoor burning in the city of Brockville needs to be approved by the fire department,” Greg Healy, chief fire prevention officer, said following a busy weekend.

“The majority of the time we get complaints they’re having a fire and we haven’t approved the fireplace they’re using.”

One of the calls city firefighters answered over the weekend involved someone burning scrap lumber in an unauthorized outdoor fireplace.

There are active burning bans in place in the surrounding townships of Augusta and Elizabethtown-Kitley to mitigate the risk of grass and bush fires starting in the recent dry, hot weather. But there isn’t currently a ban in place within Brockville.

This is because regulations are more restrictive within city limits for outdoor fireplace guidelines, so bans aren’t as commonly used since the restrictions are already in place. But people first need to heed the regulations to make them effective in preventing a blaze.

“If you are in the city, you require authorization to have a campfire, bonfire or for any outdoor burning,” Healy said. “It has to be in an approved outdoor fireplace. You can’t just throw some wood on the ground and light it up.”

Not following outdoor fireplace guidelines in the city can result in a steep fine. The fine for not complying with regulations is up to $50,000 and/or a year in jail.

When firefighters respond to a call for unauthorized burning, the residents are asked to extinguish the fire, they’re given guidelines for installation, then the incident is forwarded to fire prevention for follow up.

The outdoor fireplace guidelines for the City of Brockville are:

• a minimum clearance of 1.2 metres shall be provided between the appliance and combustible material with nothing above it
• Each appliance must ve equipped with a chimney with a permanently fixed spark arrester inside the chimney having opening less than 5 mm.
• Each appliance shall be located at or near grade level.
• When an appliance is placed on a combustible floor, a non-combustible pad that will provide ember protection shall be placed under the appliance. The pad shall extend a minimum of 450 mm beyond the appliance on any side equipped with a door or screen.

Residents are encouraged to contact the fire prevention office with any questions.