Nanaimo Fire Rescue is reminding people that backyard burning requires a permit. Credit: Nanaimo Fire Rescue.
Residents of Nanaimo are being reminded that backyard burning requires a permit, and you must wait until Friday to do so.
Fire Prevention Officer Umesh Lal says there has been an increase in the number of complaints of illegal backyard burning, which is only allowed from sunrise to sunset on Fridays and Saturdays in the months of April and November.
The city says backyard burning is banned for most Nanaimo homes, with permits issued for property owners on lots one acre in size or larger, or for lots on Protection Island.
Burning restrictions are for outdoor, residential backyard burning and burn piles, with only organic yard waste materials such as garden refuse and prunings may be burned.
The use of gas and charcoal barbeques, gas fire bowls, pits and fireplaces, wood pellet or chip smokers and small cooking fires less than 24 inches in diameter are still permitted.
Burning of wooden construction material, stumps, land clearing materials and debris or household garbage is not permitted.
Officials say fires must not be bigger than 1.5 metres across in size, must be hand fed and be at least three metres from combustibles.
If you obtain a permit, you must have a charged hose or a bucket of water located nearby to help put out a fire if necessary.
The city says people planning a backyard burn be familiar with the fire bylaw and the list of conditions required to get a permit.
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