If you have a burning desire to have a backyard fire in Trail you may be out of luck

Photo: BC Wildfire Service

A burn registration number is not a permit, and residents must adhere to local bylaws and obtain the necessary papers. However you can not openly burn in certain RDKB municipalities.

Many people in Trail have been inquiring about the city’s burning bylaws, asking if property owners are allowed to have a small fire pit in their backyards.

The city has cleared the smoky air that has clouded some of the information being passed around about Trail's fire rules.

The short answer is no, you can't have any sort of fire within the Trail city limits.

According to the City’s Fire Safety and Prevention Bylaw, open burning is prohibited within city limits and the Trail communications and events manager confirmed this, citing a slew of misinformation that has been floating around.

Open burns are classified as fires that release smoke directly into the air and that aren't contained to a fireplace stove or furnace.

Some municipalities within the Regional District of Kootenay Boundary (RDKB) require residents to obtain an open burning permit for free, but Trail is not one of them. If you live in Greenwood and Montrose, interested residents are able to apply for a open burning permit.

In Greenwood each burn permit has to be renewed every seven days. Montrose opened up burn permits this year and each one is valid for one year.

Residents have to send in a picture of where they plan to have the fire, and then it is sent off to the Kootenay Boundary Regional Fire Rescue (KBRFR) for approval.

There are also few different burn categories that each city has to abide by. Category 1 burns are any fire that is no larger than 0.5 metres high by 0.5 metres wide, any fire larger than this is considered a Category 2 open fire.

For larger-scale burns, (category three) burning material must be larger than two metres high by three metres wide. This would apply if you are planning on burning something bigger than two hectares. Accepted applicants will be provided with a registration number.

It’s important to note that a burn registration number is not a permit, and that residents must also adhere to local bylaws and obtain the necessary papers. City officers can enter any building or property at a reasonable time to ensure that the regulations are being abided by.

Burning without a valid permit may result in a fine or service fee. Under the B.C. Wildfire Act, unauthorized burning can result in a $1,150 violation ticket and could be up to as much as $200,000 under the Open Burning Smoke Control regulation. Fine prices may vary depending on the municipality.

• For more information about burn restrictions head to the City of Trail website, the RDKB website or call 1-800-355-7352.