Clarence-Rockland Fire Services reminds us of the regulations regarding open fires.

Benjamin Richard – Local Journalism Initiative

In this week of fire prevention, Mario Villeneuve, Chief Firefighter for the City of Clarence-Rockland, Charles Gagnon, Acting Chief of the Prevention and Public Education Division of The City of Clarence-Rockland and Alexandre Sigouin, firefighter and helper in the issuance and inspection of open burn fire permits, explain the procedures to take in order to operate an open-air fire safely and in compliance with city code.

“If you are a tenant of your home, make sure you have the permission of your landlord to actually purchase a fire permit [...] If you don’t follow the rules, it can be revoked at any time”. Alexandre Sigouin emphasizes the importance of a predetermined agreement between the resident and the building owner in the case of a rental, before applying for a open burn fire permit from the city.

“Any permit holder must call the number to notify that they’re making a fire” “It’s an automated system, it’s important to call, because if you call and there’s a burn ban in effect, it may tell you that you’re not allowed to make a fire at this current time” explains Charles Gagnon. The Prescott-Russell Fire Department requires that anyone wishing to have an open air fire contact 1-855-943-4088 first, to ensure that the air conditions are favorable enough for the open air fire to be safe