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Burning permits are mandatory in Foothills County.

• Open fires are allowed by obtaining a burning permit online, or in person at the Heritage Height Fire Hall.
• You DO NOT need a burn permit for a campfire in a fire ring.
• You DO NOT need a burn permit for burning barrels with screen covers and located on a non-combustible surface.

Check For Fire Bans First.

• Visit the Provincial Fire Bans website to check if any fire bans are currently active in your area.

Burning Permits and Burning Regulations:

• Regulations You Need To Follow
• Burning Permit Conditions
• Burning Permits
• Guidelines For Use Of Burning Barrel Incinerators
• Agricultural Land Regulations

Burning Regulations:

1. Fire permits are required year round in the Municipal District of Foothills No. 31.
2. The fire must be set at the time and place indicated on the permit.
3. The number of fires set at one time and minimum equipment needed may be specified on the permit.
4. A fire permit is a legal document which conditionally authorized a person to burn Class A materials (wood/paper) at a time specified on the permit. By obtaining a fire permit you have simply indicated you wish to burn.
5. The responsibility for conducting a safe burn is yours. Anyone who sets a fire under the authority of a permit must comply with the following requirements and conditions.
6. See Burning Permits & Regulations Brochure above.

Burning Permit Conditions

1. The fire must be supervised at all times by a responsible adult.
2. No burning is permitted when winds exceed 12 km/hr or are gusting.
3. Suitable fire extinguishing equipment to be located at the site.
4. The 911 Dispatch Centre @ 1-888-808-3722 must be notified approximately one (1) hour prior to burn taking place.
5. You must call the Dispatch Center each and every day before you burn
6. No burning is permitted between the night hours of 10:00 pm and 7:00 am unless a special permit has been issued by the M.D. of Foothills Fire Chief.
7. Only Class A combustibles are to be burned (clean wood/paper products).
8. An accurate description of the size and the type of combustibles must be given to the Foothills Fire Department when applying for a permit.
9. Any breach of the above conditions renders the permit null and void.

 

Burning Permits

1. Other than campfires and Municipally approved incinerators, any person lighting a fire for any purpose must have a valid fire permit.
2. Burning Permits are
3. Burning permits are valid for a maximum of 5 days from the date of issue. If conditions warrant, permits may be canceled at any time. Extensions may be granted under a new permit number, provided the required conditions can be met.
4. As a condition of the burning permit, you must inform the 911 Dispatch Centre @ 1-888-808-3722 one (1) hour prior to commencing burning each and every day you commence your burn.
5. When disposing of a building or structure by burning, the building or structure must first be demolished. The burning of tires, plastic wastes or other toxic noxious materials or substances is not permitted.

The Municipal Fire Chief, may suspend or cancel all permits or prohibit the lighting of fires in any part or all of the Municipal District of Foothills No. 31 with a Fire Ban. The general public is notified of Fire Bans via email, text SMS message, local news media, this website, Facebook and Twitter.  When permits are suspended or cancelled and fires are prohibited, all fires ignited under the authority of a burning permit must be extinguished immediately.

 

Guidelines For Use Of Burning Barrel Incinerators

1. Incinerator to be installed on a non-combustible base, positioned so as not to endanger other combustible materials or structures.
2. Incinerator to be fitted with a tight meshed spark arrester screen (7 mm mesh)(1/4").
3. Burning is not recommended when winds exceed 12 km/hr or are gusting.
4. A means of extinguishing the fire must be on site during operation of incinerator.
5. The person using the incinerator is responsible for its safe operation. If in doubt, contact the M.D. Fire Chief.

Agricultural Land Regulations

Special regulations must be followed by those who have a fire permit to burn brush or debris after land clearing or other agricultural activities. These activities will be covered under a Class II Burn Permit.

1. No fire shall be ignited for broadcast burning of grass or stubble without first obtaining a fire permit from the Fire Department at 403-603-3575.
2. Windrows of debris must be no more than 60 metres in length.
3. The area being burned must be completely surrounded by a guard cleared of combustible material to a width of not less than 15 metres.
4. No windrow shall be closer than 25 metres to uncleared land or standing combustible fuels.
5. Parallel windrows must be separated by not less than 15 metres.
6. Every fire must be supervised and controlled by a responsible person or persons.
7. The minimum amount of equipment required on site:
   - cultivation equipment as directed in permit
   - one barrel of at least 200 litres of water
   - one water backpack and hand pail or four heavy sacks; and
   - two (2) round mouth shovels and one axe

Reduce your chances of having a fire get out of control by checking these precautions:

1. Ensure that your fire guards are wide enough and cleared to prevent sparks from your fire. Large fires can carry sparks over a considerable distance.
2. Have required tools ready at the fire site and enough portable water to control fire if required. Even for a small single pile you should have a shovel and water available.
3. If you have any brush piles, burn only as much as you can keep under control. Check to see if any neighbors will be available to assist you if you require emergency assistance.
4. Do not start to burn under windy or gusty conditions. Whenever possible, plan your burn for early in the day. You will get good burning time if you start at 7:00 am and burn through until 10:00 pm. When your burn is completed, speed up any final extinguishing by dispersing any smoldering ash or accumulation of burned debris.
5. Fires can remain dormant in large piles for long periods and usually surface when fire hazard conditions are extreme. Persistent hot spots left to burn out must be well guarded. When the weather gets dry, any holdover fire must be extinguished. Continue to check completed burning projects to be sure no holdover fires are present.
6. One of the most serious burning problems is caused by hold over fires when it is assumed they are out.

THINK FIRE SAFETY

For information about wildfire: Alberta Sustainable Resource Development