Picton, ON – Prince Edward County Fire & Rescue (PECFR) reminds residents that burn risks change daily and to be diligent when setting open air fires.
“Although the ground may seem wet, dormant dry grass and brush combined with spring wind make the perfect recipe for an out of control fire,” Fire Chief Chad Brown says. “Always supervise your fire and ensure you have adequate resources on hand to control or extinguish a fire.”
Under municipal by-law 77-2021, all property owners / occupants must have a burn permit before setting open air fires. Residents can obtain a permit by visiting https://pec.burnpermits.com.
All burn permits are subject to terms and conditions that place restrictions on fires. Restrictions include the type of material that may be burned, permissible locations for fire pits, distance restrictions, and the size of the fire. PECFR reminds permit holders to follow all of the restrictions on their permit when burning.
Failure to comply with burning restrictions could result in fines and revocation of the permit. PECFR may seek to recover costs from property owners / occupants when set fires are not compliant with burning restrictions. Costs may include rates for PECFR vehicles, personnel, and administration costs.
You must activate your burn permit before every fire. You can active your permit online by logging into your burn permit account using a smartphone, tablet, or by calling 1.833.376.1011. Visit the County website for more information on activating your permit.
Fire Chief Brown may institute a full or partial burn ban depending on the conditions. The burn status can be checked anytime by calling 613.476.2345 or by visiting the County website and social medial accounts (Facebook and Twitter).
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For media inquiries, please contact Mark Kerr, Communications and Consultation Supervisor, at 613.476.2148 ext. 1009 or by email at mkerr@pecounty.on.ca.