Backyard fires in Gore Bay
Whether a backyard fire or fire pit is allowed in Gore Bay, Ontario, the permit rule, coverage level, and how to check today's fire ban.
The Town of Gore Bay requires an approved burn permit for any open-air fire. Applications may be submitted in person or by email at the municipal office and are reviewed within three working days. Burning is allowed only between 6 p.m. and midnight, must be supervised by a competent adult, and must use clean wood, brush, leaves or discarded wood by-products. Fires are prohibited during a municipal fire ban or in a Restricted Fire Zone. Propane, natural gas and charcoal barbecues are exempt.
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
No person shall set a fire during a municipal fire ban when the Fire Hazard Rating is high or extreme, and no person shall set a fire in a Restricted Fire Zone.
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 Gore Bay
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.
Gore Bay backyard fire questions
Can I have a backyard fire in Gore Bay?
The Town of Gore Bay requires an approved burn permit for any open-air fire. Applications may be submitted in person or by email at the municipal office and are reviewed within three working days. Burning is allowed only between 6 p.m. and midnight, must be supervised by a competent adult, and must use clean wood, brush, leaves or discarded wood by-products. Fires are prohibited during a municipal fire ban or in a Restricted Fire Zone. Propane, natural gas and charcoal barbecues are exempt. Source: Town of Gore Bay - Regulation of Open Air Burning By-law 2023-03, last checked 2026-07-02.
Are gas or propane fire pits allowed in Gore Bay?
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 Gore Bay today?
No person shall set a fire during a municipal fire ban when the Fire Hazard Rating is high or extreme, and no person shall set a fire in a Restricted Fire Zone. 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 Gore Bay?
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 Gore Bay's by-law any time of year.
What happens if I have a fire during a ban in Gore Bay?
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 Town of Gore Bay - Regulation of Open Air Burning By-law 2023-03, last checked 2026-07-02. Any person applying for a burn permit must do so in person or by email at the municipal office.
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, Burpee and Mills, Central Manitoulin. Or see every municipality.