G-FIPO Open Air Burning

Open-Air Burning Regulations

• The authority to approve open-air burning is delegated to Chief Officers of the Fire Prevention Division.
• Open-air burning is not permitted within the City of Toronto, except for small, confined fires used for cooking food on a grill, barbecue, or spit.
• Approved open-air burns require a Ceremonial fire request submitted, reviewed, and signed off by the Chief Fire Official (Fire Prevention division).

Conditions for Approved Open-Air Burning

• The fire must be supervised at all times.
• The fire must be commensurate with the type and quantity of food being cooked.
• The fire must meet the manufacturer's instructions for outdoor use, assembly, and installation.

Consequences of Non-Compliance

• Failure to comply with open-air burning regulations is a contravention of the Ontario Fire Code.
• A person can be charged under the Fire Protection and Prevention Act, 1997.

Reporting Open-Air Burning Incidents

• The Incident Commander must ensure open-air burning occurrences are referred to the TFS Fire Prevention Division.
• The Incident Commander must note and report the owner's/person in charge's name, address, and telephone number.

Campfire Units

• Patio campfire units are deemed "approved" under the Fire Code if they are ULC and CSA approved, supervised at all times, and operated in accordance with manufacturer's instructions in a safe manner and location away from combustibles.

Indigenous Sacred Fires

• Indigenous Sacred Fires fall under the scope of an open-air burn/Cultural Fire.

• Notifications of these fires are submitted and reviewed by the Community Risk Reduction Division.

• Designated and undesignated sites for Indigenous Sacred Fires require safety assessments and notifications to TFS.

• Indigenous Sacred Fires

  4.1 Indigenous Sacred Fires fall under the scope of an open-air burn/Cultural Fire

  and notifications of these fires are submitted and reviewed by the Community

  Risk Reduction Division.

  4.2 Indigenous Sacred Fires can occur at designated and undesignated sites.

  CRR staff will ensure Communications staff are notified of these locations

  and the appropriate CAD note is entered.

  (a) Designated Sites: locations across the city, identified by the Indigenous

  Affairs Office which undergo an annual safety assessment by the CRR

  division, and may be used by First Nations, Inuit or Métis community

  members throughout the year.

  (b) Undesignated sites: These sites are not permanent and the Indigenous

  Affairs Office (IAO) will notify TFS of the date and time of the fire. The

  CRR division receives the notification and conducts a site safety

  assessment.

  4.3 TFS will continue to respond if there is a perceived Fire or safety concern

  from residents at any site. Company officers are to assess the situation from

  a distance (if possible) and not interrupt the ceremony unless they identify a

  safety concern and need for action to be taken by responding crews.

  (a) Stations within run areas of designated sites will be advised of their

  locations.

  (b) Undesignated sites will be flagged in CAD as to the date and time of the

  planned event.

• Sacred fires are not to be extinguished unless there is a risk to public safety

  or it has spread from the ceremonial location.