Windsor

Leamington stresses permits for open-air burning

One local municipality is reminding residents to make sure they have the proper permission to burn things open air.

With the weather turning milder and people more likely to be outdoors, the Municipality of Leamington requires residents who want to burn in the open air to apply for permits.

"It’s important that residents get a permit and follow fire-safety protocols while conducting open-air burns," said Leamington Fire Chief Andrew Baird. "Burning without a permit could result in a minimum $125 fine."

The Municipality offers permits for three types of open-air burning. The first is for a single event, geared toward farm clean-up, with fires set no closer than 45 metres to a building and no closer than 305 metres from an oil well or any hazardous material.

The second type is agricultural or animal, in a designated spot marked by a pit or a berm, with the same distance requirements. The third and final type is a recreational campfire or bonfire, which requires a steel containment ring and must be placed at least 4.5 metres away from buildings, landscaping, fences, tree branches, or overhead wires.

Permit applications typically are processed within three business days, and first-time permit applicants must agree to a property inspection before approval.

Complete information on open-air burning in Leamington can be found on the Municipality's official website.

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