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LAST UPDATED: 2022/10/27

Introduction

Fire Permits are part of the GVFD's Fire Prevention program and are required and regulated through CRD Fire By-Law No. 3452

  • CRD bylaw restricts burning from April 1 to October 31 by permit only.
  • No open burning is permitted during the months of July, August and September.
  • No open burning includes campfires and burning barrels.
  • $500.00 fine for open burning during prohibited period.
Burning Barrel


Class "A" Burning

Includes debris from land clearing and machine piled, piles larger than 2 meters or 6 feet. Class "A" burning permits are required year round and must be taken out in person at the fire hall. The pile(s) to be burned will also have to be inspected before a fire can be lit. Class "A" Burning shall only be allowed on a property when there are no provisions at a land clearing receiving centre, within the Service Area, which are approved under the CRD Solid Waste Management Plan and the Environmental Management Act and Regulations. No person shall burn land clearing waste:
  • within 50 metres of the works or facilities of any utility,
  • within 50 metres of buildings on same property,
  • between a building and a highway,
  • within 100 metres from a neighbouring residence or business, or
  • within 500 metres from a school in session, a hospital or a facility used for continuing care as defined under the Continuing Care Act, RSBC 1996, c.70.
  • Class "A" fires are not permitted to burn for more than three consecutive days.
  • No person shall add additional materials to a fire within two (2) hours of sunset of day of the fire.
  • A permit for Class "A" Burning is required all year.
  • Burn dates for Class "A" fires is dependant on the venting index and fire hazard level.
click here for Venting Index
 


Class "B" Burning

Includes backyard burning and hand piles a maximum diameter of 2 meters or 6 feet. Class "B" burning permits are required from April 1 to October 31. Permits can be taken out online from the link below or from the firehall. Permit can be applied for up to 2 days in the future and are good for a period of 4 day. No phone-in permits are allowed.
  • No person shall carry out Class ‘B’ Burning within 10 metres of any building, structure, fence, tree or hedge.
  • No person shall burn green debris or leaves.
  • No person shall permit a Class ‘B’ fire to burn for more than four consecutive days.
  • No person shall add additional materials to a fire within two (2) hours of sunset of each day of the fire.
  • No person shall carry out Class "B" Burning during the Fire Season except under the authority of a permit.
  • If in the opinion of the Fire Chief, conditions are such that burning could become hazardous or create a nuisance because of change in weather, wind, or other circumstance, the Fire Chief may direct that a permit is required for Class "B" Burning outside of the Fire Season.
 


Class "C" Burning

Includes incinerators, liquid fuel, propane, briquette or similarly fuelled stoves, barbecues, beach fires and campfires. Class "C" burning permits may be required at the Fire Chief's discretion. NOTE: for incinerator burning an approved mesh screen is required and please remember that much of what people burned in the past is now recyclable.
 


Enforcement

A Fire Chief:
  • has the authority from CRD Fire By-Law No. 3452 and the Fire Services Act of BC to enter any land or premises at all reasonable times to inspect conditions which may cause a fire, increase the danger of a fire or increase the danger to persons.


No person shall:
  • in any way hinder any member of the Fire Department or any other person under the direction of the Fire Chief at any fire.
 


Fines

Any person who violates any provision of this bylaw shall be liable, upon summary conviction, to a fine of not less than $50.00 and not greater than $2,000.00.



Some example fines from SCHEDULE 33 TO BYLAW NO. 1857:

  • Hindering an officer - $200.00
  • Class A burning within restricted area - $500.00
  • Burning without a valid permit - $100.00
  • Open burning during prohibited period - $500.00
  • Failure to extinguish beach or camp fire - $100.00
 


Futher Information

For more information please see CRD Fire By-Law No. 3452 Other restrictions on burning come under provincial legislation in the Open Burning Smoke Control Regulation Act.
 


Get a Fire Permit!* Class A fires always require consultation with your Fire Chief - Contact Info.

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