AH no longer issues daytime burn permits
On March 7, 2024, the Council for the Township of Algonquin Highlands adopted a new Open Air Burning By-Law. The new by-law was jointly created by the fire chiefs of each of Haliburton County's lower-tier municipalities and is being implemented on a County-wide scale to create consistent regulations and strengthen public safety.
A major change is that the Township will no longer issue permits for daytime burning. Contractors are encouraged to contact Algonquin Highlands Fire Services to make arrangements in this regard. The new by-law's general provisions can be found below.
PART 2 – GENERAL PROVISIONS
2.1 No person shall set, maintain, or cause to be set or maintained, Open Air Fire except as authorized by this By-law.
2.2 No person shall set, maintain, or cause to be set or maintained, Open Air Fire on any roadway, highway, park, easement, beach, or other public property owned or operated by the Township of Algonquin Highlands without prior permission from the Municipality.
2.3 No person shall set, maintain, or cause to be set or maintained, Open Air Fire between the hours of 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. and between the dates of April 1st to October 31st.
2.4 Every person setting, permitting to be set, maintaining, or permitting to be maintained, an Open-Air Fire shall comply with the following conditions:
- a responsible person is available and in attendance at all times until the fire is completely extinguished,
- the material is burned in a single pile that is less than two (2) meters in diameter and less than two (2) meters high,
- only burn wood or by-products of wood,
- not burn noxious materials,
- fire must be at least three (3) meters from combustible materials, property line, buildings, fences, trees and roadway,
- the responsible person has tools and/or extinguishing agent adequate to contain and completely extinguish the fire,
- the fire must be completely extinguished before the burn site is vacated.
Any questions concerning the new open air burning by-law can be directed by e-mail to Fire Chief Mike French at mfrench@algonquinhighlands.ca