Backyard fires in Hearst
Whether a backyard fire or fire pit is allowed in Hearst, Ontario, the permit rule, coverage level, and how to check today's fire ban.
Hearst requires a free fire permit from the Fire Chief for any open-air fire during the fire season (April 1 to October 31), except fires used for cooking or warmth. The permit is issued at Town Hall during normal office hours and permit holders must comply with the Forest Fires Prevention Act and MNR regulations.
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
The Fire Chief can declare local fire bans; Hearst is in the Cochrane fire region and provincial Restricted Fire Zone declarations also apply.
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 Hearst
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.
Hearst backyard fire questions
Can I have a backyard fire in Hearst?
Hearst requires a free fire permit from the Fire Chief for any open-air fire during the fire season (April 1 to October 31), except fires used for cooking or warmth. The permit is issued at Town Hall during normal office hours and permit holders must comply with the Forest Fires Prevention Act and MNR regulations. Source: Town of Hearst, Fire Permits, last checked 2026-07-02.
Are gas or propane fire pits allowed in Hearst?
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 Hearst today?
The Fire Chief can declare local fire bans; Hearst is in the Cochrane fire region and provincial Restricted Fire Zone declarations also apply. 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 Hearst?
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 Hearst's by-law any time of year.
What happens if I have a fire during a ban in Hearst?
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 Hearst, Fire Permits, last checked 2026-07-02. There is no fee for the permit; apply at Town Hall or contact the Fire Chief during office hours.
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: Black River-Matheson, Cochrane, Iroquois Falls, Kapuskasing. Or see every municipality.