Municipal Affairs
November 4, 2016

Public Advisory: Ensure Guy Fawkes Night Bonfires are Legal and Safe

Lighting bonfires on November 5, Guy Fawkes Night, is a popular tradition in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Wherever possible, residents are encouraged to attend a community-sponsored bonfire. Those holding a private bonfire are advised to contact their Municipality, Local Service District, Inuit Community Government, or local fire department.

To ensure bonfires are legal and safe, the Department of Municipal Affairs is reminding residents that it is against the law to openly burn plastics, tires, asphalt products, paint products, used oil, household garbage, and treated wood. In areas where bonfires are permissible FES-NL is also cautioning residents to take the following steps:

• Fires should be placed on a gravel base 8-10 metres from any trees or structures;
• Flammable liquids should not be used to start or accelerate a fire;
• Only adults should add material to the fire and ensure no aerosol cans or pressurized gas cylinders (such as propane tanks) are added;
• Surrounding property owners should ensure all combustible materials are properly secured;
• Children should be very closely supervised by their guardians around a bonfire;
• Bonfire organizers should ensure ready access to fire extinguishing tools and supplies; and
• Once finished, the fire should be fully extinguished using water and/or gravel.

Bonfire attendees are also asked to tidy up after themselves and return the bonfire area to its previous condition.

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Media contact:

Lynn Robinson Media Relations Manager Department of Municipal Affairs 709-729-5449 lynnrobinson@gov.nl.ca

2016 11 04             11:30 a.m.