Backyard fires in Burpee and Mills
Whether a backyard fire or fire pit is allowed in Burpee and Mills, Ontario, the permit rule, coverage level, and how to check today's fire ban.
Burpee and Mills requires a free burn permit for open-air fires. Residents choose either an Incinerator/Burn Barrel permit valid until December 31, or a Pile/Brush permit valid for seven days. Grass fires are not permitted anywhere in the township.
Municipal ruleGas versus wood
Gas and propane fire pits are treated separately from open-air wood burning and are the simplest option; placement rules and any active ban still apply.
Today's fire ban
Burn only between 8 p.m. and 9 a.m. and stop if conditions become unsafe. The township posts fire-ban and safety information on its website; Manitoulin Island is also subject to the provincial Restricted Fire Zone layer during active bans.
For the provincial layer, check Ontario's fire restrictions and the Forest Fire Information Map, which show Restricted Fire Zones across the fire region.
Two separate rules can stop a backyard fire in Ontario: a municipal fire ban, which any municipality can declare during a dry spell, and a provincial Restricted Fire Zone, declared only in the northern fire region. Either one overrides your normal permission, so check both before you light up.
Backyard fire safety in Burpee and Mills
Where a recreational fire is allowed, these rules keep it legal and safe almost everywhere in Ontario:
- Burn only clean, dry, untreated firewood. Never garbage, leaves, brush, or treated or painted wood.
- Keep the fire small and contained in a pit, ring, or approved appliance, not a loose pile.
- Stay well back from buildings, fences, trees, decks, and the property line.
- Keep water or an extinguisher within reach, and never leave the fire unattended.
- Watch the wind. Skip it on dry, gusty days, and soak the ashes cold before you go inside.
- Never burn during a fire ban or Restricted Fire Zone, even if you usually could.
Burpee and Mills backyard fire questions
Can I have a backyard fire in Burpee and Mills?
Burpee and Mills requires a free burn permit for open-air fires. Residents choose either an Incinerator/Burn Barrel permit valid until December 31, or a Pile/Brush permit valid for seven days. Grass fires are not permitted anywhere in the township. Source: Township of Burpee & Mills, Fire Permits, last checked 2026-07-02.
Are gas or propane fire pits allowed in Burpee and Mills?
Gas and propane fire pits are treated separately from open-air wood burning and are the simplest option; placement rules and any active ban still apply.
How do I know if there is a fire ban in Burpee and Mills today?
Burn only between 8 p.m. and 9 a.m. and stop if conditions become unsafe. The township posts fire-ban and safety information on its website; Manitoulin Island is also subject to the provincial Restricted Fire Zone layer during active bans. For the provincial picture, check Ontario's fire restrictions page and the Forest Fire Information Map, which show Restricted Fire Zones in the fire region.
What can I burn in Burpee and Mills?
Only clean, dry, untreated firewood for a recreational fire. Burning household garbage, leaves, brush, painted or treated wood, and construction debris is prohibited across Ontario, fire ban or not.
When is fire season in Ontario?
Ontario's official fire season runs April 1 to October 31. During it the province manages wildfire and can declare a Restricted Fire Zone in the northern fire region. Municipal open-air burning rules apply all year, so check Burpee and Mills's by-law any time of year.
What happens if I have a fire during a ban in Burpee and Mills?
Municipalities and the province can fine illegal open-air burning, and you can be billed for the cost of fighting any fire you start. If a ban or Restricted Fire Zone is in effect, do not burn, even if you hold a permit.
Source
From Township of Burpee & Mills, Fire Permits, last checked 2026-07-02. Permits are submitted online through the township website at no charge; contact the Burpee and Mills Fire Department with questions.
This is a plain-language summary, not the bylaw, and not legal advice. Open-air burning rules and bans change quickly, especially in dry weather. Always check your municipality's page and today's ban status before you light anything.
Other municipalities: Northeastern Manitoulin and The Islands, Billings, Central Manitoulin, Gordon/Barrie Island. Or see every municipality.