MAPLETON – An updated burn bylaw was approved unanimously by Mapleton council during a regular meeting on Feb. 11.
The bylaw was initially presented to council as a draft in November. No changes were made to that draft and no issues were raised by councillors or members of the public.
During that meeting, fire chief Chris Harrow noted the updates aim to align Minto, Wellington North and Mapleton’s burn bylaws.
“Everybody was satisfied with it, so we are just bringing it back for adoption,” Harrow said.
Compared with the township’s previous burn bylaw, which was last updated in 2015, the updated version has stricter rules around distances between burns and structures, materials that can be burned and when burns are permitted.
All open air fires larger than one metre in diameter will require a township permit. Previously, only fires with a ground area larger than two by two meters required a permit.
Fires exceeding three metres in diameter or two metres in height will require inspection and approval from the fire chief or designate.
Open air fires must be at least 45 metres away from any building, structure, property line, hedge, fence, roadway, overhead wire, or any other combustible material.
Campfires must be at least three metres away from the above, and a campfire’s diameter and height must be less than one metre. Campfires must be supervised at all times and a fire extinguisher, hose or other suitable means of extinguishment must be readily available.
The updated bylaw allows permits to remain in place for 30 days, but restricts burns during strong winds (above 10 km/hour) or high humidity or air pollution.
It limits burning materials to clean materials such as wood and brush – specifically prohibiting the burning of “paint, solvents, rubber, wire, plastics, asphalt, shingles, toxic chemicals, or any materials that violate the regulations of the Ministry of the Environment.”
Burning garden waste or leaves will not be permitted within any of Mapleton’s urban areas.
Permits are not required for burn barrels (where permitted), recreational campfires, outdoor fireplaces, cooking fires or barbecues.
Open air burn permits are issued free of charge.
