Backyard firepit reminder

SASKATOON FIRE & PROTECTIVE SERVICES REMINDS RESIDENTS OF RESPONSIBLE USE OF BACKYARD FIRE PITS

Saskatoon Fire & Protective Services (SFPS) reminds residents to act responsibly with the use of backyard fire pits.

Every use of a fire pit within city limits is subject to six conditions:

Fires must be contained within a non-combustible appliance constructed of material such as cement, brick, or metal, and covered with a heavy gauge metal screen.

The size of the fire box of any outdoor burning facility shall not exceed .61 cubic metres.

Only cut seasoned wood or charcoal shall be used to fuel outdoor fires.

All outdoor fires shall have responsible supervision at all times.

No person shall light an outdoor fire when the weather conditions are conducive to creating a running fire or allowing the smoke from the fire to be a nuisance to another person (smoke drift).

If smoke from an open-air fire causes an unreasonable interference with the use and enjoyment of another person’s property, the fire shall be extinguished immediately.

The following items are not permitted to be burned in fire pits within Saskatoon city limits:

Rubbish

Garden refuse

Manure, livestock or animal carcasses

Any material that will result in the production of dense black smoke

Any material which will generate a foul odour

Any material classified as a dangerous good

Using fire pits to burn tree branches and garden refuse is in contravention of the Saskatoon Fire and Protective Services Fire Bylaw No. 7990. SFPS will extinguish any fires that don’t comply with the Bylaw.

SFPS recommends that fire pits be positioned at least three metres from combustible materials.

Bylaw No. 7990, the Fire and Protective Services Bylaw, is available at http://www.saskatoon.ca under “B” for Bylaw.