Everyone knows they’re happening. Now the town of Deep River is looking at approving backyard fires, with a seasonal permit.

Deep River council will receive a report Wednesday night from fire chief Gary McRae recommending that the town pass a bylaw to “regulate the setting of fires within the town of Deep River.”

The bylaw would set out two types of fire permits – an “open air burning” permit that would be good for 10 days and cover piles of brush, etc., and a “recreational burning” permit that would be good for the season and allow for backyard fires in approved fire pits or containers.

Both types of permits would come with a list of conditions. For backyard fires, fire pits could be no more than 30 x 30 inches in size and 24 inches in height.

Only clean, dry fuel would be allowed and fires would have to be securely contained within the fire pit.

The fire pits would have to be located a minimum of 10 feet from neighbouring properties, and at least 15 feet from any “combustible structure, combustible vegetation, or accumulation of combustible materials (ie. overhead tree branches).”

In addition, “an effective method of extinguishing the fire shall be at the site of the burning and be immediately available for use (ie. source of water),” the draft permit states.

“Recreational fires shall be attended, controlled and supervised at all times by a Responsible Person and shall be completely extinguished before the fire site is vacated.

“The smoke or other emissions from the fire shall not travel to a neighbouring property to such an extent or degree that, in the opinion of a municipal bylaw enforcement officer, it may cause discomfort to persons, loss of enjoyment or normal use of the property, interference with normal conduction of business, or damage to property.

“The smoke or other emissions from the fire shall (also) not travel across any public roadway to the extent or degree that, in the opinion of a municipal law enforcement officer, it may cause a public safety hazard to any person travelling on the roadway.”

The cost of a seasonal permit would be $20.

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