Alerts

Warm Weather - Fire Safety

Details

Category: Alerts

Published: Wednesday, 02 April 2025 13:54

With the warmer temperatures and the dry foliage along the trails and in wooded area in the Town, we must be mindful of our actions in these areas.
In 2022, the Town adopted the Fires and Burning of Material By-law, which outlines the proper way to enjoy outdoor fires. The provincial burn restrictions, updated every day at 2 p.m., outline the burning restrictions.
The By-law can be accessed at: https://www.newglasgow.ca/town-hall/council/by-laws.html
The provincial burn restrictions can be accessed at: https://novascotia.ca/burnsafe

Under the Town of New Glasgow’s Fires and Burning of Material By-law:
• Camping or shelter building in the woods on town-owned land is not permitted.
• There are also no open fires permitted in the woods.
• The fires must be in a recreational outdoor burning appliance, and the manufacturer’s operating instructions must be followed.
• You can only burn seasoned dry wood; no brush or leaves are allowed.
• The size of the fire cannot be any larger than 60 centimeters in width and no higher than 45 centimeters.
• There must be someone always present while the fire is burning, and this person must be a minimum of 19 years of age.
• You must have your fire pit at least 4.75m (15 feet) from any structure or property line.
• You must also have a means to put out the fire close by.
• If you are going to have a small backyard fire, inform your neighbours to make sure it will not bother them. If a complaint comes in, you will be asked to put the fire out.

Additionally, the province also states that daily fire restrictions apply in the woods or within one thousand feet of the woods. Both these restrictions apply to people’s private property, like having a backyard campfire.
If you see a fire in a wooded area, call 911 and give the best description of its location for responding agencies.