Usage of Fire Pits

Spring has sprung (....until the weekend!). It is the time of year when a lot of backyard clean-up is being done. This is a friendly reminder to use your green bin, which is now picked up weekly. Burning anything other than clean/dry wood in your yard is illegal and come with a hefty fine.

There are a number of St. Andrew's Residents that suffer from respiratory issues, so please be kind and adhere to the City bylaws:

https://www.calgary.ca/csps/fire/safety-tips/in-your-home/fire-pit-safety.html

1. Backyard fire pits should be built into the ground, on brick or stone, or in a fire-proof container. Portable fire pits may be used on a deck as long as they sit on brick or stone, and not directly on your wooden deck.
2. Fire pits must be at least two metres away from your property line, house, garage, or fence.
3. Fire pits must NOT be under any trees, branches, plants or other materials that can catch fire.
4. All fires in your fire pit must be kept to a reasonable size; 1 metre high and wide. A mesh screen or ‘spark guard’ is now required in order to reduce the spread of embers and sparks from wood-burning fire pits. The openings in the mesh screen must not be greater than 1.24 cm across.
5. Only burn clean, dry firewood. Do NOT burn:
   Wood that is painted, treated or contains glue or resin
   Wood from a different location, region or province
   Wet or green/fresh cut wood
   Yard waste (cut grass or leaves)
   Garbage
   Rubber or plastic
   Furniture
6. Always have a way to put out the fire close to your fire pit. Easy options are your watering hose or a bucket of water.
7. All fires in your fire pit must be continually supervised.

You can be fined, up to $5,000, for not following Calgary's fire pit bylaws.