Now that the warm weather is here, more and more people will want to enjoy the evenings with a backyard fire.
Unfortunately, Windsor has a prohibition on open burning without a valid permit. Getting caught without one could be costly.
According to the City of Windsor, residents found with an open fire without approval will face a cost recovery charge equivalent to Ministry of Transportation rates. That's $583.05 per hour, per piece of apparatus, plus consumable inventory and a 10 per cent administrative fee. The city also charges HST on top of the fine.
"So far, in 2026, our emergency services have already responded to more than 30 incidents related to improper open burning," said Fire Chief Jamie Waffle.
The fine is to recover costs associated with the dispatch of emergency vehicles and services.
The city also has a reminder about yard waste collection this spring.
Curbside collection for yard waste started in mid-April.
The city asks residents to place leaves, garden waste, branches, brush, tree, and hedge trimmings in approved containers, like cardboard boxes, paper yard waste bags, or garbage cans.
Branches must not exceed 7.5 cm in diameter, and brush and branches should be tied up in bundles no longer than 4 feet in length, and three feet in diameter. The bundle should not weigh more than 44 lbs.
Loose piles of brush won't be collected.
