Community Connect

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Home Fire Safety

• Causes of fire
• Cooking
• Heating
• Home Fire Escape - Single-Family
• Home Fire Escape - Multi-unit
• Safety Tips
• Tenant Fire Safety
• Seniors Fire Safety

Children Fire Safety 

• Learn not to Burn
• Sparky’s Fire house
• Sparky’s School House
• Stop, Drop and Roll

Outdoor recreational fires are a popular activity particularly during the summer months. While the Province of New Brunswick issues burning permits and advisories according to conditions in various areas of the province, cities in New Brunswick are responsible for the regulation and enforcement of controlled outside burning within their municipal boundaries. Each city has its own by-laws regarding outdoor fires. 

The Saint John Fire Department does not issue burning permits for recreational fires at a residence. Burning for the purposes of clearing land, property, or the disposal of any material does not constitute a recreational fire and is prohibited.

CITY OF SAINT JOHN OUTDOOR FIRE REGULATIONS

• Compliance with Provincial Guidelines: Fires are only permitted on days and times allowed by the provincial forest fire watch.
• Permitted Fires: Only recreational fires in approved units are allowed. Open fires, such as bonfires or campfires, are prohibited.
• Approved Materials: Only clean wood or wood products may be burned. Chemically treated wood, garbage, and other refuse are strictly prohibited.
• Safety Measures: All fires must be attended at all times, and proper safety equipment, such as a water source, must be readily available.
• Location Restrictions: Fires must be set up at a safe distance from buildings, tall grass, and wooded areas. Specific clearance requirements must be followed.

GUIDELINES FOR BACKYARD FIREPLACES

• Must not be used on a combustible deck or surface unless approved for such use (ULC or WHI).
• Must be used with all screens in place and closed.
• No treated wood is to be used as fuel. (e.g. pentox or creosote).
• No refuse or garbage is to be burned.
• No chemically treated wood is to be used as fuel (e.g. Presto Logs).
• Must have a 10-litre pail of water or a connected garden hose nearby while in use.
• Must maintain proper clearance from combustibles (3m from buildings and fuel supplies, 3m from tall grass and 6m from wooded areas).
• Some units require clearance from bottom of unit to ground. 
• Must follow manufacturer's instructions.
• Must not be left unattended while in operation and all embers extinguished when fire has been completed and not left to burn out on its own.
• Must not be overloaded (screens must be kept closed).
• Open circles of rocks and tire rims (campfires or bonfires) are not permitted under this approval, and home-made devices must incorporate a screen having an opening of not more than 12mm when being used as a recreational fireplace.

Screened:

• 1.5 meters from combustibles
• 6 meters from wooded areas 
• 3 meters from tall grass
• Screens must be a maximum of 12 mm
• Backyard fireplaces (retail units) must be used in conjunction with manufacturer's instructions and U.L.C., W.H.I. approved usage methods

The safety of citizens, property, and the environment is critical. But in the event of an emergency, safety is much more challenging to ensure. It’s exactly why Saint John has an Emergency Management Organization (SJ-EMO) - dedicated to maintaining resident safety and minimizing the impact of emergencies. The SJ-EMO coordinates emergency planning, response, and recovery to natural and man-made disasters for the City of Saint John.

The SJ-EMO works cooperatively with a wide range of partners, including the citizens of Saint John. Our vision is for the City to be a disaster-resilient and sustainable community in which we cultivate and create a community-based emergency preparedness culture. Together, through education, communication, planning and action, we can face the unexpected with confidence.