Open Air Burning By-law 2026-37 and By-law 2026-36
South Frontenac, Ontario
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# Open Air Fire Rules & Fire Ban Status
**There is not a Fire Ban in Place.**
Starting **April 1, 2026,** several changes to the Wildland Fire Management Act were put into place. The updates were created to help spread awareness around the rules of lighting open-air fires. The changes are designed to prevent unwanted human-caused fires. The updates will help protect communities during wildland fire season.
Within the Wildland Fire Management Act is Ontario Regulation 43/26. This regulation applies to the Ontario Fire Region. For clarification, the Ontario Fire Region includes Bedford District but does not include the Districts of Loughborough, Portland or Storrington. Therefore, residents in Bedford must follow both the Ontario Regulation 43/26 and South Frontenac's By-law Number 2026-37. Residents of Loughborough, Portland or Storrington, however, must follow South Frontenac's By-law Number 2026-36. See map in the FAQ's below.
In addition to municipal fire bans, the Ministry of Natural Resources may also implement a Restricted Fire Zone for some or all of our region. **See this link** for the latest information and to check their interactive map. If you live in the Ontario Fire Region in area under a Restricted Fire Zone, you must follow MNR guidelines.
### Fire Ban Descriptions
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| --- | --- |
| **Level 1 Fire Ban** | **Loughborough, Portland and Storrington District:** During a Level 1 Fire Ban, no open air fires (including an agricultural fire, brush fire, or open air fire as part of a special event) can be set, except during the following conditions: * The open air fire is contained within a non-combustible metal, masonry (brick), ceramic or stone outdoor fireplace or is contained within a pit in the ground that does not exceed 90 centimetres (3 feet) in height, width and length. For example, small campfires & burn barrels. * The material burned in the open air fire is clean dry wood, and is placed in a single pile and does not exceed 90 centimetres (3 feet) in height, width and length. * The open air fire must be, at minimum, 5 metres (16 feet) away from any building, structure, hedge, fence, overhead wiring, trees, or other combustible material or the lot line. * Water, sand or a fire extinguisher must be immediately available at the site of the open air fire to put the fire out at a moments notice. A mobile phone must be present to call South Frontenac Fire & Rescue if needed. * An adult (person over the age of 18) must present and in control of the open air fire at all times. * Fireworks are **NOT** permitted during a Level 1 Burn Ban. **Bedford District:** During a Level 1 Fire Ban, no open air fires can be set except for the purposes of cooking or obtaining warmth and in accordance with Sections 11-21 of the Wildland Fire Management Regulation and any restrictions imposed by the Fire Chief. For example, a small campfire when necessary for cooking or for warmth. * Fireworks are **NOT** permitted during a Level 1 Burn Ban. |
| **Total Fire Ban** | **Loughborough, Portland and Storrington District:** "Total Fire Ban" means a period of time declared by the Fire Chief during which setting off fireworks and **all** Open Air Fires are prohibited (including, agricultural fires, brush fires, outdoor appliance fires, outdoor fire place fires, open air fires as part of a special event and open air fires at campgrounds). This does not include outdoor appliances with mechanical shut-off (i.e. propane, naphtha, and natural gas appliances), smokers, barbecues, and charcoal appliances. **Bedford District:** No Person shall cause or permit a fire to be set during a total fire ban. This means a period of time declared by the Fire Chief during which the setting of fireworks and all fires is prohibited. |
South Frontenac Fire and Rescue personnel will continue to monitor conditions and notify the public of any status changes.
Fire bans can be put in place at any time. Please read the Open Air Burning By-Law related to your district to educate yourself about what types of open air burning is permitted and when.
Residents are reminded that any infraction can result in significant financial penalties. If you have questions or concerns, contact SFFR at 613-376-3027 or by email at **[email protected]**. We've listed some common questions below.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Do I need a permit for open air burning?
No. A burn permit is not required.
What size of fires are allowed in Loughborough, Portland and Storrington Districts?
An "**Agricultural Fire**" is an Open Air Fire that is set solely for the purpose of burning wood, tree limbs and branches related to a **Farming Business** and which exceeds the permitted conditions related to a Brush Fire.
**Conditions for an Agricultural Fire:**
An Agricultural Fire cannot be set unless all of the following conditions are met:
(a) South Frontenac Fire & Rescue must be contacted by phone (613-376-3027) or email ([email protected]) at least three business days prior to the setting of an Agricultural Fire to determine upon inspection whether approval shall be granted to permit the Agricultural Fire;
(b) The Agricultural Fire must be set no less than 90 metres (295 feet) from any building, hedge, fence, overhead wire, trees, or other combustible material, or a lot line;
(c) The fire cannot exceed 6 metres (20 feet) in height, 6 metres (20 feet) in width and 6 metres (20 feet) in length;
(d) The Agricultural Fire cannot take place during the day. It cannot be lit any earlier than two hours before sunset and must be extinguished no later than two hours after sunrise the following day.
A "**Brush Fire**" is an Open Air Fire that is set solely for the purpose of burning wood, tree limbs, leaves, and branches but does not include an Agricultural Fire;
**Conditions For Brush Fires:**
An Brush Fire cannot be set unless all of the following conditions are met:
(a) The Brush Fire cannot take place during the day. It cannot be lit any earlier than two hours before sunset and must be extinguished no later than two hours after sunrise the following day;
(b) The Brush Fire shall be set no less than 30 metres (98 feet) from any building, hedge, fence, overhead wire, trees, or other combustible material, or a lot line;
(c) The fire cannot exceed 3 metres (10 feet) in height, 3 metres (10 feet) in width and 3 metres (10 feet) in length.
**General Open Air Fire Conditions:**
(a) The open air fire is contained within an area of non-combustible metal, masonry, ceramic or stone or is contained within a pit in the ground that does not exceed 90 centimetres (3 feet) in height, width and length;
(b) The material to be burned in the open air fire is clean dry wood in a single pile and does not exceed 90 centimetres (3 feet) in height, width and length;
(c) The open air fire is located at a distance of not less than 5 metres (16 feet) from any building, structure, hedge, fence, overhead wiring, trees, or other combustible material or the lot line;
(d) Necessary means are immediately available at the site of the open air fire to permit the fire to be extinguished, and/or to limit the spread of fire, and if necessary, to summon South Frontenac Fire & Rescue; and
(e) There is an adult (person 18 or older) present and in control of the open air fire at all times
(f) Any applicable condition under schedule "A" to this By-Law.
What size of fires are allowed in Bedford District?
**Burning piled wood, brush, leaves or discarded wood by-products:**
A person may start or tend a fire during a fire season in area outside a Restricted Fire Zone if:
1. The person is burning piled wood, brush, leaves or discarded wood by-products;
2. A responsible person (person over the age of 18) is available to tend the fire until it is extinguished;
3. The material is burned in a single pile that is less than two metres in diameter and less than two metres high;
4. The fire is started no earlier than two hours before sunset and is extinguished no later than two hours after sunrise the following day;
5. The fire is at least two metres from any flammable materials; and
6. The person tending the fire has tools or water adequate to contain the fire within the fire site.
**Agricultural Fires:**
A person may start or tend an Agricultural Fire during the fire season in area outside a restricted fire zone on property they lawfully occupy (owner), or on other property with the permission of the person who has lawful occupation of the property (renter) on which the fire is started, if:
1. South Frontenac Fire & Rescue contacts by the Fire Chief at least three business days prior to the setting of an Agricultural Fire to determine upon inspection whether approval shall be granted to permit the Agricultural Fire;
2. The fire is set at a distance of no less than 90 metres (295 feet), from any building, hedge, fence, overhead wire, trees, or other combustible material, or a lot line;
3. The material burned does not exceed 6 metres (20 feet) in height, 6 metres (20 feet) in width and 6 metres (20 feet) in length
4. The fire is started no earlier than two hours before sunset and is extinguished no later than two hours after sunrise the following day; and
5. A responsible person (person over the age of 18) is available to tend the fire until the fire is extinguished;
6. The person tending the fire has tools or water adequate to contain the fire within the fire site.
**Cooking and Warming Fires:**Notwithstanding anything in this By-law to the contrary, a person may start or tend a Fire outdoors outside a Restricted Fire Zone for the purposes of cooking or obtaining warmth in accordance with sections 11-16 of the Wildland Fire Management Regulation.
Notwithstanding anything in this By-law to the contrary, a person may start or tend a Fire outdoors in a Restricted Fire Zone for the purposes of cooking or obtaining warmth in accordance with sections 17-21 of the Wildland Fire Management Regulation.
What can't be burned?
The following is a list of prohibited materials that cannot be burned in any open-air fire (for all Township districts).
* Combustible materials, including but not limited to:
+ rubber
+ rubber products
+ plastic
+ plastic products
+ polyethylene terephthalate
+ polystyrenes (Styrofoam)
+ waste petroleum products
* Rubbish
* Demolition materials
* Metal
* Tires
* Rubber
* Plastic
* Fiberglass
* Cloth
* Asphalt product
* Shingles
* Insulation
* Electrical wiring
* Painted or treated wood
* Furniture
* Synthetic fabrics
* Composite wood waste
* Residential waste (such as food scraps, diapers and household trash)
* Commercial, industrial, manufacturing, or construction waste
* Flammable or combustible liquids:
+ oils
+ paints
+ solvents
* Batteries
* Acids, chemicals, explosives, radioactive, infectious, and other hazardous materials, and
* Any material prohibited by the Environmental Protection Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. E. 19, as amended, but shall not include untreated wood and wood fiber products, such as non-laminated paper, cardboard and boxboard, brush, tree limbs, leaves, and branches;
Are there weather conditions that can determine if I can have an open air fire?
There are prohibited conditions in which an open air fire cannot take place. Do not light a fire if:
(a) Wind speeds exceed 25 kilometers per hour, including wind gusts, as determined and published by Environment and Climate Change Canada;
(b) A smog alert/smog watch/smog advisory has been declared by Environment and Climate Change Canada and remains in effect; or
(c) Drought or dry weather conditions exist that increase the risk of a burn escaping containment and becoming a wildfire;
(d) Unavailability of Fire Response due to staffing shortage, staff fatigue, and out of service equipment such as forestry hose.
Where is the Ontario Fire Region Boundary?
As outlined in the image below, the Ontario Fire Region Boundary, for reference purposes is defined by the gray dotted line, intersects the Township of South Frontenac along the Bedford District border.
The Ontario Fire Region includes the Bedford District but does not include the Districts of Loughborough, Portland or Storrington. Therefore, residents in Bedford must follow both Ontario Regulation 43/26 and By-law Number 2026-37, while residents of Loughborough, Portland or Storrington must follow South Frontenac's By-law Number 2026-36.
Can I have a fire when it's windy?
If you will be lighting an open air fire, be sure to check your weather app first. Open air fires are **NOT** permitted when wind speeds exceed 25 kilometers per hour. Please be responsible and do not burn when it is windy.
Contact Us
South Frontenac
Fire and Rescue
Mailing address:
4432 George St. Box 100
Sydenham ON, K0H 2T0
T: 613-376-3027
TF: 1.800-559-5862
(if calling within the
613 area code)
[email protected]
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