The summer season has officially begun, meaning late nights, and more time outdoors.
For those with a backyard fire pit, there are some rules you have to follow.
Deputy Fire Chief Joe Armstrong with the Saint John Fire Department suggests stopping by your local fire station for guidelines on how to have a safe fire.
“We will give you the distances that it has to be away from a house, that it has to be away from a wooded area,” he said.
Safety is paramount, especially when burning late at night.
“We suggest that there is a ten litre pail of water handy or a connected garden hose. It’s got to be extinguished after its used.”
As well, the pits must be commercially approved, and have screens to prevent embers from falling out.
“If it is a homemade device, then it must have an incorporated screen,” he said.
Armstrong says there’s more to guidelines than just an approved pit: what you burn has rules too.
“You’ve got to use approved wood in it. It can’t be anything that’s been pressure treated or anything like that. We don’t want any chemicals coming off it,” he explained.
A full list of the guidelines can be found online.
As well, proper backyard fires shouldn’t be a disturbance to your neighbours.
Armstrong says his fire department sees an increase of complaints during the summer, which is why education on proper use is important.
“We do from time to time get calls and we will go and check it out, and it its in an approved device, an its not being an inconvenience to their neighbours, and they’re meeting all of our guidelines, then they’ll be allowed to continue to burn.”
“It’s an educational thing,” he said. “We want people to enjoy their backyard and we want them to enjoy the summer time weather. Our ask is that they make sure that they are following the guidelines.
