Beware the "... on a grill or barbecue" wording in there.
Barbecue (of the type that one would conventionally think of as a barbecue, not something off the wall that you are creatively interpreting as a barbecue), not a problem. Coleman grill or similar, not a problem. Fire pit on the ground, problem.
I have a fire pit in my back yard (Aldershot). The dick that use to live next door called the fire department on me. I got a warning and the fire guy in charge told me to have a grill and some dogs handy. "when you see our lights coming up the street, toss the grill and a few dogs on, and we'll ask you nicely to extinguish it when the food is cooked then leave. How hungry you are is up to you".
My neighbours went nuts with the fires this year. I never really used to mind as they did it once or twice in the summer but this year the smoke was blowing into my house and stinking everything up regularly.
There is a fire pit you can get that reburns the smoke or something, it’s essentially smokeless. I wouldn’t mind one of those but in an urban setting I'm not going to get a traditional one.
There is a fire pit you can get that reburns the smoke or something, it’s essentially smokeless. I wouldn’t mind one of those but in an urban setting I'm not going to get a traditional one.
I have one of those, BioLite fire pit. It's not 100% smokeless until you get the fire good and established, but then, yeah, pretty much...until it starts to die down. You do have to keep the fan pretty cranked though - much below medium speed and you start to get smoke again depending on what you're burning.
As for the "I'm cooking" excuse, beware most municipalities have closed that loophole.
And the "small enclosed space" exclusion typically references things like smokers, IE like the pellet grill / smoker I have. Technically wood fired, but small and enclosed. 99% of your neighbours would probably never even know it's wood fired vs propane or charcoal.
I live in a small town and have a back yard fire pit that I have used for the last 2 1/2 years. I have a long backyard, 90 feet. I have a small shed on it as well. Bylaw here is 25 feet from all structures and fences. The long way is no issue, the width between houses is 47.5 feet give or take a few inches. So I am about 3 feet short from the centre of the pit to be 25 feet on both sides, I am assuming they don't measure from the centre as well so maybe 4 or 5 feet short. I guess my question is, and I know this will be different based on location and staff, but has anyone had fire inspectors be a little flexible and bend a bit when something this close to the needed space.
This came up because someone reported me having an "unsafe fire". I have a fire every 2 weeks or so, 2 other guys for a book club. Well spaced out around the fire. I want to apply for a permit but worried about the shortfall of width space.
I had one in my yard, built it when I built my detached garage. Building inspector noticed, told me they were illegal in Markham. A few days later a bylaw guy dropped in and said I had to dig it our or fill it in -- no open air burning in urban Markham.
I filled it in and bought a portable one that now sits on top of the formed pit I originally made.
weirdly here in Oakville you can have a bonfire anywhere as long as you are 25ft from a combustible anything. Must be supervised and contained (ring of stones or bricks passes)
Out of curiosity what direction is the prevailing wind? I think it's Bobcageon where one of the sewage pumping stations can't run its emergency generator if the wind is in the wrong direction. The annoyance of diesel fumes trumps a sewage backup.
Out of curiosity what direction is the prevailing wind? I think it's Bobcageon where one of the sewage pumping stations can't run its emergency generator if the wind is in the wrong direction. The annoyance of diesel fumes trumps a sewage backup.
I'm surprised they care..there’s a town in Quebec on the north side of the Ottawa river just outside Gatineau that I have to drive through very quickly with the windows sealed as the old paper plant leaves the place literally smelling of ****. If the wind was blowing the wrong way I could smell it in Ottawa. Thousands of people complained...nothing happened. On the upside..property there is cheap.
I'm surprised they care..there’s a town in Quebec on the north side of the Ottawa river just outside Gatineau that I have to drive through very quickly with the windows sealed as the old paper plant leaves the place literally smelling of ****. If the wind was blowing the wrong way I could smell it in Ottawa. Thousands of people complained...nothing happened. On the upside..property there is cheap.
I was doing a cannonball run from TO to Winnipeg with a buddy and somewhere around the Lakehead I was at the wheel and smelled something awful. I was wondering what buddy had for lunch and then realized we were passing a pulp mill.
I have a fire pit in my back yard (Aldershot). The dick that use to live next door called the fire department on me. I got a warning and the fire guy in charge told me to have a grill and some dogs handy. "when you see our lights coming up the street, toss the grill and a few dogs on, and we'll ask you nicely to extinguish it when the food is cooked then leave. How hungry you are is up to you".
I am hoping I can use this for the time being. I emailed the chief here and was told they are looking at the bylaws to make it easier for smaller lots, with some other changes. That is not going to come up till April or May though, so does not help me know. I am going to get in touch with the fire inspection officer who originally came to my house to ask about the food thing as the chief did not answer that part of my email. We cook food anyways when out there so hopefully this will allow us to keep going as there really is nothing better then a fire with a sausage roasting over it in the middle of the winter.
So I'll share some perspective from the opposite view. I live in Toronto, fire pits are not allowed. I have called the fire department a few times on neighbours because smoke was filling my house, I like to have fresh air and leave windows open a bit. Anyhow no way to remove it, obviously I can't open the window and alternatively I can't just suffer with it either. As well the next day getting in car it reeked of smoke. Both times the fire were huge bon fires something you would have deep in the woods camping. To me this is just stupidity and affects me and other people around you. If you have a property out in the boonies with no neigbour right next to you, go for it you have less of a chance to impact someone.
Calling your local fire chief is going to be a good option. I did the same to go over the situations with them.
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