Backyard burning began on March 31 in 91原创 Township's rural areas, but anyone setting fire to brush and green yard waste has to have a valid permit and obey a number of regulations.

The permits are available online.

This year, the spring burning period runs from Monday, March 31 to Sunday, May 4. Another permit period usually takes place during the fall.

The burning period can be put on hold by Metro Vancouver if there are air quality restrictions during the month.

People with rural homes can burn branches, leaves, tree trimmings, and weeds during that period.

The Township of 91原创 Fire Department's website, which hosts the burning permit site, has a long list of items which people are banned from burning, with or without a permit. Those include furniture, garbage, old buildings including sheds or barns, plastics, tires, and insulation.

Fires should be placed away from trees, property lines and fences, and overhead power lines. 

A burn pile can be a maximum of 1.2 metres (three feet) in height and two metres (six feet) wide. 

Those burning should have suitable tools on hand to control spot fires, such as rakes or shovels. The use of gasoline or other accelerants on the burn pile is prohibited, and there should be a hose and sufficient water supply to extinguish the fire.

Fires have to be constantly supervised and fully extinguished after the burning is complete.

More details on how to conduct a backyard burn can be found on the Township's incidental outdoor burning permit website.