As the weather warms up, the draw of a backyard fire is almost irresistible.

For June, Cochrane Fire Services will be focusing on safe fire prevention measures when it comes to having a backyard fire pit. 

Inspector Jeff Avery with Cochrane Fire Services shares the fire department receives several inquiries regarding fire pits this time of year from new residents or those inquiring about the specifics on having one. The lure of sitting around a warm fire is something almost every community member enjoys; however, there are some rules and regulations you may want to be aware of.

The most common mistake are residents not situating their fire pit three-metres from all combustibles, says Inspector Avery. "If you have a fire pit in your yard it has to be three metres away from your fence, hedges, house, deck, and anything that can catch fire. There really has to be a complete circle around it."

Another component missing from many fire pits is also a spark retention mesh screen. "We will go to a lot of complaints where people don't have a screen on their fire, and we just want people to follow the rules. Everybody likes to sit by a fire, but it also comes down to respecting your neighbour too."

Keeping with the good neighbour theme, Avery also asks that you make sure you only burn clean, dry wood if you are planning a fire. "Don't be burning garbage, yard clippings, or treated wood. Burning that gives off so much smoke, and no one wants that coming in their home."

With so many new homes not having a backyard even big enough to sustain a backyard fire pit with the three-metre regulation, Avery says there are some creative, alternative solutions for folks wanting to sit by the warmth of a fire. "For people that can't have a fire pit, instead of taking a chance, I always recommend taking a look at one of the propane fire tables. We treat them the same as a barbecue; they run on propane, but you can have a propane fire table on your deck just like you would a barbecue. You can also have them in your yard, and they don't require the three-metre combustible clearance."

While currently there is no fire advisory or ban in place for Cochrane, Avery says the best safeguarding measures are to imagine an advisory is in place all the time. "Even if there is no advisory, always treat a backyard fire as if there is an advisory. Always be aware of your surroundings, be aware if there is a hill behind your house with dry grass, is the garden hose ready to go to wet the area around the fire because we always want you to follow the rules and be careful, and that the fire is cool to the touch before you head indoors."

Cochrane Fire Services has been known to go door to door in certain communities sharing fire pit information, but residents are also welcome to drop by the hall or call.

If you would like to discuss your concept plan with Cochrane Fire Services before building your backyard fire pit give them a call at 403-851-2540, and they would be happy to help you out. "If somebody wants us to have a look at their backyard firepit to make sure it does meet regulations, by all means, give us a call. If you have a concern about somebody else burning and you deem it as a hazard, then call 911, and we will have a look."

Some common question and answers are below:

  • Do I need a permit? No. As long as your fire pit, outdoor fireplace, barbecue pit, or portable fire receptacle meet the guidelines outlined in the Fire Serves Bylaw 14/10
  • Do I need to have a fire extinguisher? You are required to have a means of extinguishing the fire on hand at all times while it is burning. A garden hose and water are sufficient.
  • My neighbour is/was burning in the backyard, and I am concerned about the fire hazard. Can my neighbor do this? If your neighbor's fire pit meets the conditions set out by the Town of Cochrane, they are permitted to have a fire in their backyard. However, the fire must not create a risk of fire or damage to persons or property or create a nuisance. If you are concerned that it is a fire hazard, call 911 and indicate you wish to have a burning complaint investigated.