Backyard fires in Morley
Whether a backyard fire or fire pit is allowed in Morley, Ontario, the permit rule, coverage level, and how to check today's fire ban.
Morley Township requires a fire permit for open-air burning, with exceptions only for small contained cooking or warmth fires under the Forest Fires Prevention Act. Seasonal permits may be issued for incinerators and for persons who have attended approved fire management training; agricultural and industrial burns require an approved burn plan.
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 Chief Fire Official may suspend, refuse or rescind a permit when a potential fire danger exists. Morley is in the Rainy River provincial fire region, so provincial Restricted Fire Zone orders 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 Morley
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.
Morley backyard fire questions
Can I have a backyard fire in Morley?
Morley Township requires a fire permit for open-air burning, with exceptions only for small contained cooking or warmth fires under the Forest Fires Prevention Act. Seasonal permits may be issued for incinerators and for persons who have attended approved fire management training; agricultural and industrial burns require an approved burn plan. Source: Township of Morley, Open Air Burning By-law No. 1405, last checked 2026-07-02.
Are gas or propane fire pits allowed in Morley?
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 Morley today?
The Chief Fire Official may suspend, refuse or rescind a permit when a potential fire danger exists. Morley is in the Rainy River provincial fire region, so provincial Restricted Fire Zone orders 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 Morley?
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 Morley's by-law any time of year.
What happens if I have a fire during a ban in Morley?
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 Morley, Open Air Burning By-law No. 1405, last checked 2026-07-02. Open-air fires may be set no sooner than two hours before sunset and must be extinguished by midnight; wind must be less than 16 km/h. Apply through the Fire Department or the online portal.
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: Alberton, Lake of the Woods, Chapple, Dawson. Or see every municipality.