Burning, fireworks and fire permits

Fire guardians

Fire guardians are volunteers in the community. As a result, they may not be able to respond to requests immediately. Contact a fire guardian in your fire district to get your permit; Leduc County councillors are also fire guardians.

Fire permit holders are allowed to burn the following materials:

• paper products
• yard waste (weeds, leaves, tree clippings, brush, fallen trees, etc.)
• wood or wood products that don't contain preservatives

You can't burn the following materials, even with a fire permit:

• animal manure
• pathological waste
• wood or wood products that contain preservatives
• rubber, including tires
• plastic, including baler twine
• oil
• containers that held pesticides or chemicals
• waste material from construction sites

Fire advisories

A fire advisory is generally an indication that a fire restriction or ban may be implemented. If a fire advisory is issued, certain restrictions may be placed on burning.

Fire restrictions

No open fires are allowed and all open fires burning when the restriction is issued must be extinguished immediately. The use of approved burn barrels or fire permits is allowed; however, you should use extreme caution. All fire permits are suspended, as per the Forest and Prairie Protection Act, and no new fire permits will be issued.

Fire bans

No outdoor fires are allowed, including open fires, fires used for cooking and warmth, or fires contained to burn barrels and fire pits. All outdoor fires burning when the ban is issued must be extinguished immediately. All fire permits are suspended, as per the Forest and Prairie Protection Act, and no new fire permits will be issued. The discharge of fireworks is not allowed.

Fire pit specifications

Acceptable fire pits are outdoor containers that meet the following specifications:

• minimum of three metres separating the fire pit from all buildings, property lines or other combustible materials
• a fire pit shall be surrounded by a non-combustible surface that extends one metre in circumference of the fire pit
• a fire pit must not be more than 0.6 metres in height when measured from the surrounding grade to the top of the pit opening
• a fire pit must not be more than one metre in diameter when measured from the widest points
• a fire pit must have enclosed sides made from brick, concrete blocks, heavy gauge metal or other non-combustible materials
• a mesh screen with openings no larger than 1.25 centimetres made of metal (or a non-combustible material) must cover the fire to contain and reduce airborne sparks

Burn barrel specifications

Acceptable burn barrels are outdoor containers that meeting the following specifications:

• containers must be no larger than 210 Litres
• the barrel must be placed on a non-combustible surface extending at least three metres from the container
• the barrel must be placed at least 15 metres from the property line, building, structure or other combustible material
• a mesh screen with openings no larger than seven millimetres made of metal (or a non-combustible material) must cover the fire to contain and reduce airborne sparks

Ash disposal

To dispose of ash, place the ashes in a metal container and soak with water. Let the ashes sit for two-to-three days before disposal in a pit.

All individuals discharging fireworks in Leduc County are asked to consider those in neighbouring areas prior to discharging fireworks.

The loud sounds and flashes of light caused by the discharge of fireworks can disturb livestock and animals. We recommend contacting nearby residents and informing them of your plans to discharge fireworks so they can take necessary precautions to protect livestock and animals. Further, we recommend you discharge fireworks as far away from neighbouring properties as possible.

Age requirement

You must be 18 years of age to purchase, posses, handle, discharge, fire or set off fireworks.

Storage considerations

• No more than 10 kilograms of fireworks can be stored in a dwelling unit.
• If consumer fireworks are stored in a dwelling unit, they must be stored:
  • away from flammable substances and sources of ignition
  • in a manner that protects them from theft
  • in a manner that ensures access to them is limited to adults

Discharging fireworks

• Follow Natural Resources Canada’s recommended practices for the discharge of fireworks.
• Read and follow all instructions on the fireworks packaging. It is your responsibility to maintain a safe discharge radius, as identified on the fireworks.
• Fireworks must be set up so that, when ignited, the projectile will go into the air in a vertical direction with no more than 10 degrees variance.
• You must not discharge fireworks:
  • in a place or manner that could cause a risk of injury, death or damage to persons or property
  • within 30 metres of a highway, road allowance, range road or township road
  • on a public beach, park or municipal reserve
  • within 30 metres of any building, tent, trailer, canvas shelter or motor vehicle
  • within 30 metres of a stand of trees, brush or power lines
  • when a fire ban or fire restriction is in place or when the weather conditions create an undue fire hazard such as when winds exceed 30 kilometres per hour.

Consumer fireworks are not toys. Consumer fireworks are, in fact, powerful pyrotechnic articles and, for this reason, both their sale and purchase are regulated.

Learn more about consumer fireworks safety from Natural Resources Canada.