In the Municipality of West Elgin, fire safety is everyone's responsibility. Please see the Guide to Understanding West Elgin's Burning By-law for more information. 

Burn permit

Make sure that you have an approved Burn Permit before starting an open burn. 

Preventing barn fires

The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs outlines the main causes of barn fires, what you can do to prepare, and how to reduce your risk. Preparation and planning are key in preventing barn fires.

You should make sure to:

• Have a plan to deal with a fire emergency;
• Create a preventative maintenance and housekeeping schedule;
• Have a licensed electrical contractor inspect and maintain your buildings on a regular basis;
• Train your family and employees on what to do if there is a barn fire.

We encourage you to work with us and with your insurance company to identify and fix any problem areas.