Fire Permits & Regulations

Call Before You Burn!

Does everyone know your controlled burn isn't a wildfire ready to explode? While you may have everything under control, neighbours and passers-by may not be so sure.

Call local fire dispatch toll-free at 1-877-507-7011 prior to igniting your controlled burn, and provide local fire dispatch with the following details prior to igniting your controlled burn:

• Your name - Location of the fire (provide a rural address)
• Your contact phone number - Time the fire will commence
• A prominent local landmark near the burn location.

Do you have your permit?

As of April 1 of each year, all individuals are required to obtain fire permits from their fire guardians for any burning within the Mountain View County Fire Protection Area, which includes the areas:

• South of Hwy. 27- West of Hwy. 22 up to RR 60 except the area south of Twp. 310 where the west boundary is RR 54 to the South Boundary
• North of Hwy 27/ SH 584- West of SH 766 up to RR 60 up to the North Boundary.

Free fire permits are available from designated fire guardians throughout the fire protection area.

*Important: As part of the permitting process, individuals are required to call local fire dispatch toll-free at 1-877-507-7011 prior to igniting your controlled burn, and provide local fire dispatch with all above-mentioned details prior to igniting your permitted controlled burn.

Alberta Forest Protection Areas

The Alberta Forest Protection Area includes two portions of Mountain View County:

• West of RR 54 from Twp Rd 310 to the South Boundary (covered by Calgary SRD office).
• West of RR 60 from Twp Rd 312 to the North Boundary (covered by Rocky Mtn. House SRD office).

Residents and industry in these two areas must obtain free burning permits from Sustainable Resource Development, but cannot obtain permits from County Fire Guardians for lands within the Forest Protection Area.

The permits can be obtained from any SRD office location. To contact SRD call toll free 403-310-0000 or directly at 403-297-8800 (Calgary office) or 403-845-8266 (Rocky office). You can also visit them online at srd.alberta.ca.

See also: Forest Protection and Fire Protection Areas Map

Is it safe to burn?

During certain times of the year, due to dry and/or windy conditions, fire bans may be implementred for Mountain View County and our surrounding communites and municipalities.

During these times, fires within the County are banned until further notice, and all existing fires must be extinguished. This generally includes:

• Charcoal briquettes
• Fire logs
• Open campfires

Exceptions can be made for fires which are contained in cooking and hearing appliances fuelled by fluids or gasses.

During a fire ban, any fire permits that have been previously issued by the County will be void. New fire permits will not be issued until the ban is lifted.

Information on fire bans will appear on our website, or can be obtained at the Alberta Fire Bans website.

Burning tips

When burning during safe condtions, resdients are reminded to:

• Keep a phone, rake, shovel, containers of water and an extinguisher nearby- and to quickly extinguish spot fires caused by embers.
• Ensure a hose is within reach of your fire so you can put out spot fires.
• Consider the prevailing wind direction, and clearances from buildings and vehicles to avoid fire spread; and always stop burning if your smoke obstructs any road or highway.
• When you are done burning, be sure to double-check, and make sure your fire is extinguished before you leave.

Burning barrels- what's ok to burn?

The burning barrel- a mainstay of almost every rural residence. Although convenient, burning items like waste plastics in a burning barrel, or in a pile, can contribute to the release of toxic pollutants directly into the air we breathe. This uncontrolled, low temperature burning is a major source of pollutants which impact air quality in our rural areas. Although it may seem harmless enough, the following pollutants can potentially be generated by uncontrolled low temperature burning:

• Dioxins and Furans (the primary component in the defoliant 'Agent Orange')- These are chemical compounds released during combustion, especially from plastic and rubber. They decompose so slowly that they are present in the environment for many years. Dioxin compounds are absorbed by our bodies and are stored in our fat cells, and have been linked to cause skin lesions and cancer.
• Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) which can aggravate respiratory and heart illnesses and lead to kidney and liver damage. They also contribute to the formation of ground-level ozone (photochemical smog).
• Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)- which are known carcinogens- are generated when elements of municipal waste are not completely combusted. PAHs
• Carbon monoxide (CO) - small amounts of which can cause nausea and headaches when inhaled, also contributes to the formation of harmful low level ozone.
• Hexachlorobenzene (HCB), which has similar properties to dioxins as it persists and builds up in humans and the environment. It may cause serious health problems such as cancer, kidney and liver damage at certain levels of exposure
• Nitrogen oxides NOx, which contribute to acid rain and the formation of ground level ozone. Short term exposure to very high concentrations of Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) can result in adverse effects on the respiratory system. N20 also has 296 X the global warming potential compared to C02.
• Microscopic particles- which can be small enough to get deep into our lungs- are associated with health problems including bronchitis, asthma and heart attacks. People who already have respiratory or heart problems, the elderly and infants, are most at risk when exposed to these particles, which are known to transport dioxins in the environment.
• Ash- which may contain mercury, lead and arsenic- are toxic to humans and animals when consumed, causing heart problems, kidney and brain damage. If deposited in the garden, vegetables can accumulate them and they can then be passed onto humans when eaten.

Burning may be a simple way to clean up a site, but you may be breaking the law. Under the Alberta Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act you are prohibited to burn:

• Animal manure
• Pathological waste (waste from human health centers)
• Wood or wood products with preservatives
• Plastic including baler twine
• Containers that held pesticides or any other chemicals
• Rubber including tires
• Oil
• Waste materials from construction sites
• Plastic or rubber-coated materials including copper wire
• And any waste causing dense smoke, offensive odours or releases toxic substances.

Health risks to you, your family, and the environment should be motivation enough for you not to burn your farm plastic, and to bring it in for recycling.
The most important person in this effort is YOU.
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.