Fire officials in Chatham-Kent are reminding residents to follow all safety precautions for fireworks and campfires this long weekend.
The municipality lifted the recreational fire permit ban on Tuesday, and fireworks are allowed.
"If people do want to light off fireworks with their immediate family, it has to be done on your own property," said CK Fire and Emergency Services Public Educator Whitney Burk. "You can't go into a city street and light of fireworks there. Good idea to always have a bucket nearby, just in case, and they can only go until 11 p.m."
Burk added that fireworks are allowed to be set off three days before Victoria Day and three days after, from Friday, May 15, until Thursday, May 21.
"We do have to be careful. Obviously fireworks can draw a crowd and as we all know, social distancing, physical distancing, all of those practices are all in place for our community."
Campfires are allowed if you have a fire permit.
Fire permits are not always required, and Burk said if anyone is unsure, they have a handy guide on their website.
"There's some pictures there that show approved burning devices which don't require a permit. The reason for that is they are smaller contained devices, like chimineas, gas fire tables, an outdoor fireplace. Anything, where you can have a smaller contained fire, doesn't require a permit."
But permits are required for larger fire pits.
"Whereas an open-air burn down in a campfire pit, anything that is over 60 cm in diameter, does need a permit," said Burk. "Those are those recreational fire pits that you need a permit for."
Fire permits cost $20.40 and are good for one year. CLICK HERE to find the application.