City-Wide Fire Ban Remains in Effect

Please be advised that the Restricted Fire Zone announced by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) on July 15, 2026, remains in effect for the Northwest region.

The City of Kenora Fire and Emergency Services city-wide fire ban remains in place and will continue until further notice.

All outside burning is prohibited, including brush and grass burning or backyard fire pits.

All burning permits are cancelled until further notice.

The City of Kenora fire ban will remain in effect until the Restricted Fire Zone (RFZ) is lifted by MNRF.

What you can use

Gas or fuel stoves, charcoal, and wood burning stoves or furnaces are permitted with extreme caution and only under specific conditions:

Gas or fuel stove

If you need heat for cooking or warmth in a RFZ, you can only use:

• a portable liquid fuel or gas stove (for example, barbeque), that can be turned off easily by closing a shut-off valve or lid
• the stove must be at least 1 metre away from any naturally occurring flammable material
  

Charcoal

You can use a charcoal installation in a RFZ for cooking or warmth, only if you are within 100 metres of a permanent structure used as a dwelling and are on land that you legally occupy.

Your charcoal installation must be:

• at least 1 metre from any naturally occuring flammable material
• designed to use commercially produced charcoal as fuel
• using commercially produced charcoal as fuel
• completely extinguished and all ashes and coals safely disposed of before installation is moved or left unattended
  

Wood burning stove or furnace

You can use an outdoor wood burning stove or furnace only if you are within 100 metres of a permanent structure used as a dwelling and are on land that you legally occupy.

Your wood burning installation must be:

• at least 5 metres from any wildland area (including grass, brush and forest)
• at least 2 metres from any flammable material
• situated on bare rock, mineral, soil or other material that won’t burn and extends 2 metres around the stove or furnace in all directions
• designed to be used for cooking or warmth
• designed to use wood as the fuel source and wood is being used as the fuel
• made entirely of non-combustible material
• enclosed the fire on all sides with solid material
• equipped with working spark arresting devices for all vents and chimneys
• if the wood burning stove is portable, all ashes and coals produced are completely extinguished and safely disposed of before the stove is moved

To learn more, visit:

• Outdoor Fire Restrictions (RFZ’s)
• Current Forest Fire Activity
• Provincial Outdoor Fire Rules and Permits
• City of Kenora Burning Permit and Rules