This is an automated transcription (OCR) of the captured
official document — minor recognition errors are possible; the source
document governs.
Snapshot 034e5977b593 · verified 2026-06-09 ·
original document ·
archived snapshot ·
unofficial consolidation, the official version is held by the municipal clerk.
## RURAL MUNICIPALITY OF WOODLANDS BY-LAW NO. 2720/19
Being a By-law of the Rural Municipality of Woodlands for the prevention and the control of fires within the Rural Municipality of Woodlands.
WHEREAS Section 232 (1), 250(2) and 252 (1 &2) of The Municipal Act, L.M. 1996, C.58 Chap, M225 provides as follows:
- 232 (1) A Council may pass by-law for municipal purposes respecting the following:
- (a) The safety, health, protection and well being of people, and the safety and protection of property;
- (i) Preventing and fighting fires;
- (o) The enforcement of by-laws.
- 250(2) Without limiting the generality of subsection (1), a municipality may for municipal purposes do the following:
- (e) use municipal equipment, materials, and labour to carry out private works on private property.
- 252(1) A municipality exercising powers in the nature of those referred to in clauses 250(2)(b), (c), and (e) may set terms and conditions in respect of users, including:
- (a) Setting the rates or amounts of deposits, fees and other charges, and charging and collecting them;
AND WHEREAS the Council of the Rural Municipality of Woodlands deems it desirable and in the best interest of the municipality to reduce the potential for uncontrolled fires and to put in place controls for Controlled Fire;
AND WHEREAS the Council of the Rural Municipality of Woodlands deems it desirable to regulate the use of Outdoor Fire Pits and Outdoor Solid Fuel Appliances;
NOW THEREFORE the Council of the Rural Municipality of Woodlands in session duly assembled enacts as follows:
This By-law may be referred to as "The Rural Municipality of Woodlands Burning Bylaw".
## Definitions:
By-law Enforcement Officer: means Rockwood Woodlands By-law Enforcement Officers).
Fire Chief: means the Fire Chief for the Rural Municipality of Woodlands.
Municipality: means the Rural Municipality of Woodlands.
Outdoor Fire: a fire that is started outdoors including crop residue burning, land clearing and grass burning, but does not include a fire started in, and remains contained within, a fire pit or solid fuel burning devise.
olid Fuel Burning Devise: a device designed for burning solid fuel for aestheti injoyment including but not limited to: masonry fire pits, chimineas, outdoor fireplace
Fire Pit: a freestanding metal or concrete vessel in which a contained outdoor fire is made.
1. No person unless specifically permitted through this by-law or an Authority Having Jurisdiction, shall set or start an outdoor fire within the boundaries of the Rural Municipality of Woodlands unless it is conducive to do so.
2. Outdoor fire pits as well as outdoor solid fuel devices may be constructed and used, for recreational purposes only, providing that:
3. (a) The outdoor fire pit or outdoor solid fuel device shall be enclosed on all sides and constructed of masonry, concrete, or heavy gauge metal or other noncombustible materials.
4. (b) The outdoor fire pit or solid fuel device shall be covered with a noncombustible grate or mesh. If the outdoor fire pit or solid fuel device is equipped with a chimney, it shall have a noncombustible mesh or spark arrester installed.
5. (c) The outdoor fire pit or outdoor solid fuel device shall be located on a flat, level and noncombustible base and clear of overhangs, such as roofs, tree branches, or utility wires.
6. (d) A minimum clearance of 10 feet or 3 meters measured from the nearest fire pit edge is maintained from any structures or any combustibles (i.e. fence, trees, hydro poles) and property lines.
7. (e) Outdoor solid fuel devices shall be installed to manufacturer's specifications with any require distance to a structure or combustible of at least 10 feet or 3 meters.
8. (f) When in use, the fire pit or solid fuel device must be attended by a responsible adult person until the fire has been fully extinguished.
9. (g) Fire in outdoor fire pits and outdoor solid fuel devices are not permitted under severe wind conditions or when atmosphere or local circumstances make such fires a hazard.
10. (h) Only clean, dry wood or briquettes can be burned in outdoor fire pits or outdoor solid fuel devices. Fire cannot be used to burn garbage, rubbish, previously painted or treated wood and any fuel which when burned, may result in the release of dense smoke, or offensive odours.
11. (i) A means of extinguishment such as a portable fire extinguisher or garden hose shall be available on site. Fire must be extinguished before leaving the site.
12. (i) Smoke from outdoor fire pits and outdoor solid fuel devices shall not impact on neighbouring properties by releasing offensive odours that are annoying, unpleasant or a nuisance.
13. (k) All fire must be limited in size so the available fire fighting resources at hand may easily control them.
3. All burning within the Rural Municipality of Woodlands shall be subject to the conditions and provisions of The Wildfires Act, and the Manitoba Crop Residue Burning Regulation - MR 77/93, including but not limited to, the following conditions:
15. (a) Any Outdoor Fire shall be supervised by the owner or occupier of the land or a person authorized by the owner or occupier of the land.
16. (b) No person shall start an Outdoor Fire on any land without taking sufficient precautions that are reasonably necessary to protect persons and the property of others from the fire.
- (c) No person shall start an Outdoor Fire unless all precautions are taken to ensure that the fire can be kept under control, or when weather conditions, such as wind speeds and low humidity, are conducive to a fire burning out of control.
- (d) No person shall cause an Outdoor Fire to be started in order to guard property, clear land or burn debris, burn crop, stubble or grass, unless the land on which the fire is started is completely surrounded by a fire guard consisting of:
- (i) A strip of land free of flammable material, or of sufficient width to control the fire.
- (ii) By nature or man-made barriers, water, or
- (ili) By a combination of the above.
- (e) The smoke from an Outdoor Fire shall not pose unreasonable hazard to the health of any person or reduce the visibility on any road or highway.
- (f) A sufficient water supply and means of fire suppression capable of extinguishing the Outdoor Fire based on it fuel loading and size shall be available on site.
- (g) All fire must be extinguished when unsupervised.
4. If, in the opinion of the Fire Chief or By-law Enforcement Officer, it is not conducive to have an outdoor fire, the Fire Chief or By-law Enforcement Officer can direct the fire to be extinguished.
5. Nothing in this By-law permits or authorizes a person to use a fire pit or outdoor fire in a manner that creates a nuisance to any other person.
6. Nothing in this By-law is intended to interfere with or prohibit the burning of agricultural residue regulated by the Burning of Crop Residue Regulation under The Environment Act.
7. Council of the Rural Municipality of Woodlands may, by resolution, at their discretion, ban ALL BURNING (including an Outdoor Fire and fires contained within fire pits and solid fuel burning devices) in all or portions of the Rural Municipality of Woodlands if conditions exist where, in the opinion of the municipality, fires are of risk, and such a ban would prevent wildfire from occurring.
8. The municipality may claim costs where the Fire Department is called to extinguish a fire, which has been set in contravention of this By-law.
9. The cost of fighting and extinguishing a fire that was set in contravention of this pylaw mear be charged to the properly owner at a rate of 5500.00 per hour or
10. All costs imposed to extinguish a fire that was set in contravention of this by-law, are a debt owed by the owner of the property on which the fire was located, to the Rural Municipality of Woodlands and may be recovered by the Municipality in the same manner as a tax may be collected or enforced under The Municipal
11. Any person who contravenes a provision of this By-law is committing an offence and liable on conviction to payment of a fine of not less than:
- (a) $100.00 for the first offence
- (b) $200.00 for the second offence
- (c) $300.00 for the third office
- (d) $500.00 for each subsequent offence.
12. All fines and costs imposed on a prosecution under this By-law, are a debt owned by the person who set the fire and the owner of property on which the fire was located, to the Municipality and may be recovered by the Municipality in a court of competent jurisdiction or may be collected by the Municipality in the same manner as a tax may be collected or enforced under The Municipal Act.
13. By-law No. 2568/09 is hereby repealed.
14. The By-law shall come into force and take effect on the passing thereof.
DONE AND PASSED by the Council of the Rural Municipality of Woodlands in open Council assembled at Woodlands, in the Province of Manitoba, this 8" day of October
<!-- image -->
<!-- image -->
Lu Sleekine
Lori Schellekens, Reeve
Adam Turner, Chief Administrative Officer
READ a First time this 24"h day of September, 2019.
READ a Second time this 8th day of October, 2019.
READ a Third time this 8'h day of October, 2019.