Starting April 1, all Mountain View County residents will need a permit for any type of large burning activity on their property.
As part of changes to the county's Fire Bylaw that were signed into law in September, a permit is required for large open burns of brush piles, abandoned buildings, hay bales and stubble fires from April 1 to Oct. 31.
Permits are not required for contained campfires, barbecues and burning barrels.
The county updated its Fire Bylaw so it would become compliant with the province's Forest and Prairie Protection Act.
Under the act, municipalities need a fire permitting system in place for all areas within the municipality's borders.
Until now, however, only small segments of the county falling outside the Alberta Forest Protection Area, which comprises roughly five per cent of the western part of the county, fell under the county's fire protection area.
These segments included an area west of Highway 22 and the Eagle Hill and Eagle Valley areas.
Another change to the bylaw is the requirement that anyone setting off fireworks have a permit.
This requirement applies to the entire year and fireworks permits are free.
Jeff Holmes, the county's legislative, community and agricultural director, said the bylaw was changed to include a permitting process for fireworks because the Alberta Fire Code contains such a requirement.
"If we were to choose not to provide a permit system, then the use of fireworks would be illegal in the county,î said Holmes.
He added the overall changes to the bylaw were brought about following a legislative review of a number of the county's old bylaws.
The review was necessary in the wake of the county taking over the operation of the Cremona and District Fire Department last year, Holmes said.
"We wanted to make sure our fire bylaws were appropriate and up to date,î he said.
When asked about enforcement of the permit requirements, Holmes said the county has adequate resources to make sure residents are in compliance.
"We have peace officers and bylaw enforcement officers on staff that will respond to complaints from residents,î he said. "Through our communications, we've tried to educate the public on the changes and education sometimes does play a big part of our enforcement, making sure everyone's aware of our rules and give everyone an opportunity to learn the rules if they're not aware of them.î
Getting caught setting off fireworks without a permit would mean a fine of $25 for the first offence and that penalty would double on a second offence and quadruple for a third offence.
Setting or maintaining an open fire on a property without a permit would bring a first-offence fine of $250 and that fine would increase to $1,000 on the third offence.
The updated bylaw also gives the county more flexibility for fire bans by allowing for the creation of partial bans and complete bans.
Partial bans apply to open fires and fireworks while excluding campfires and barbecues.
Complete bans cover all types of burning except for fuel-fired, briquette and pellet barbecues and indoor fireplaces.
Under a complete ban, the county will not issue permits and existing permits will be cancelled.
Prohibited burning during a ban brings a first-offence fine of $500 and that penalty doubles on second offence and quadruples on third offence.
Holmes said there is also a "significant fineî if people carrying out burns on their properties do not notify fire dispatch services.
The number to call to inform fire dispatch of burning on your property is 1-877-507-7011.
Last year, fire departments in the county responded to 579 fire calls in rural areas and 559 calls in urban areas.
Fire permits are available at the county office located at 1408 Twp. Rd. 320 north of Didsbury and from county-appointed fire guardians.
The county is also working to complete a new online permitting system.
"If we were to choose not to provide a permit system, then the use of fireworks would be illegal in the county"Jeff HolmesDirector of Legislative Services
