Backyard fires in Cramahe
Whether a backyard fire or fire pit is allowed in Cramahe, Ontario, the permit rule, coverage level, and how to check today's fire ban.
Cramahe Township requires a burn permit for any open-air fire such as a bonfire or fire pit. Permits cost $30 per year, are valid until December 31, and are only available to residents in approved areas. Each burn must be activated by calling the automated phone system, and the burn event expires 24 hours after activation. Only wood may be burned; barbeques and cooking fires do not need a permit.
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
Always check for municipal burn bans or fire risk notices before burning, as conditions can change quickly. Cramahe is outside Ontario's northern fire region, so municipal bans are the local restriction.
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 Cramahe
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.
Cramahe backyard fire questions
Can I have a backyard fire in Cramahe?
Cramahe Township requires a burn permit for any open-air fire such as a bonfire or fire pit. Permits cost $30 per year, are valid until December 31, and are only available to residents in approved areas. Each burn must be activated by calling the automated phone system, and the burn event expires 24 hours after activation. Only wood may be burned; barbeques and cooking fires do not need a permit. Source: Cramahe Township Fire Department, Burn Permits FAQ, last checked 2026-07-02.
Are gas or propane fire pits allowed in Cramahe?
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 Cramahe today?
Always check for municipal burn bans or fire risk notices before burning, as conditions can change quickly. Cramahe is outside Ontario's northern fire region, so municipal bans are the local restriction. 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 Cramahe?
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 Cramahe's by-law any time of year.
What happens if I have a fire during a ban in Cramahe?
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 Cramahe Township Fire Department, Burn Permits FAQ, last checked 2026-07-02. Apply online at cramahe.burnpermits.com or pay in person at Town Hall, 1 Toronto Street in Colborne; cash, debit, or cheque are accepted.
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: Cobourg, Alnwick/Haldimand, Brighton, Hamilton. Or see every municipality.