At its Sept. 5 regular meeting, Cumberland Village Council passed a bylaw amendment that prohibits most land-clearing fires in the Village.
Exceptions include:
• Land-clearing fires that are for forestry management purposes and on Private Managed Forest Land
• Municipal burning
Municipalities do not have the authority to ban forestry activities.
This does not affect recreational burning permits. Once the current burning ban is lifted, backyard recreational fires will be allowed again, with a permit. Recreational permits are free of charge and will be available at the Village Office once the burning ban is lifted.
To report any kind of fire complaint or emergency, dial 911. If it is not an emergency, tell the 911 operator that it is a fire non-emergency. Callers will then be connected to the fire department duty officer.
For more information about outdoor burning, call the Village Office at 250-336-2291 or the Fire Department at 250-336-2531.