By Gazette Staff

August 12th, 2025

BURLINGTON, ON

The Burlington Fire Department has issued a city-wide burn ban, prohibiting all open-air burning effective immediately.

This city-wide ban includes properties with approved burn permits.

A fire like this is not permitted

The decision to issue a burn ban comes after particularly dry weather conditions in the Burlington area and limited rainfall along with air quality warnings for the region due to smoke from wildfires in areas of Canada.

People failing to comply with open-air burning regulations in the Ontario Fire Code and Burlington’s Open-air Burning Bylaw may be fined or invoiced in relation to response incidents.

Burlington residents are encouraged to help local fire prevention efforts by keeping overgrown vegetation cut, grass watered and moving brush, wood and yard waste away from structures and heat sources. Fire officials are also asking people to use extreme caution when cooking on barbecues during this time.

For more information, please visit burlington.ca/openairburning

“This burn ban applies to the entire city, including properties with approved burn permits. The ban will remain in effect until further notice. This measure is consistent with burn bans currently in place in many municipalities across Ontario, due to ongoing dry conditions and increased fire risk.”

Quick Facts

• You are allowed to use fire tables or bowls, and other outdoor burning devices that use propane or natural gas as fuel and that are designed/approved for this use. These don’t produce smoke or odours that can irritate neighbours. They are not permitted on apartment building balconies or where prohibited by condominium corporation rules.
• The burn ban does not apply to small, confined fire used to cook food on a grill, barbeque or pit; however, residents should exercise extreme caution and ensure fires are fully extinguished after use of cooking equipment.

Links and Resources

• burlington.ca/openairburning