An Evening's Fire

ANYONE WHO’S SAT around a campfire as twilight turns to night knows how easy it is to lose one’s thoughts in a flicker of flame. After all, there’s something about a blazing fire that takes us away from the world and its worries, to a place in our minds that’s primeval and mysterious. Perhaps fire fascinates us because it’s a study in opposites—at once a danger and a source of comfort and light. Whatever it is, those flames have been casting its spell for a very long time.

In St. Albert, installing and using a firepit on your city lot requires written approval from the Fire Chief (or designate). Before installation, a permit application has to be submitted, as well as a drawing of the design and placement of the firepit. On private property in the city, firepits must be in the backyard, no less than three metres from property lines, structures, and vegetation. The construction also has to follow some strict guidelines and measurements, all of which can be found on the City’s website. Fires can only be used for cooking and warmth, and only clean dry wood can be used as fuel (In other words, no pallet fires in your backyards please). t8n