Can I burn today in Southwest Middlesex?
Southwest Middlesex’s by-law does not set out what each fire danger rating allows, so this page cannot tell you whether today is a burning day. Today’s rating is beside this, and the fire hall below has the answer.
- Air quality (AQHI)
- 2 · Low risk
- Measured at
- London
- Observed
- 3:00 AM EDT Thursday 10 September 2026 · rating measured at the centre of Middlesex County, which covers a wide area
A rating is not permission. Southwest Middlesex requires a permit, and a fire ban can be declared at any time. Southwest Middlesex Fire Department decides — not this page.
Per event; Fire Chief may issue permits to allow a special event to reoccur over an extended period
Recreational fires in an approved open burning device or pit (max 61cm x 61cm), and barbecues, need no permit. Rural-area brush burning requires phoning or notifying the Fire Chief 24 hours prior and again at the conclusion of burning. Special event fires (not recreational, not a barbecue) require a permit application to the Fire Chief with the fee set out in Schedule B (not-for-profit organizations may request a fee exemption)
An online controlled-burn request form is also referenced on the Municipality's own website.
General provision - Fire Chief permission (Section 1.1)
No person shall conduct, or permit to be conducted, an open air burning within the boundaries of the Municipality of Southwest Middlesex unless permission has been given by the Fire Chief for the applicable area.
Recreational burning exemption - no permit required (Section 1.2)
Despite Section 1.1 above, permission is not required from the Fire Chief for open air burnings associated with the use of open burning devices or pits specifically designed for open air burnings... a) open air burning may only be conducted between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 a.m. (midnight); ...l) open air burnings are not permitted when the wind speed exceeds 25 kilometres per hour or during rainy or foggy weather or at times when a smog alert has been declared by the Ministry of the Environment for Ontario.
Special Events permit (Section 1.4)
All persons seeking permission to hold a special event involving an open air burning that is not a recreational burning as per Section 1.2 and does not employ the use of a barbecue as per Section 1.3 shall apply to the Fire Chief for a permit to have an open fire at such event... such application should be accompanied by the applicable fee as set out in Schedule "B" to this by-law. Registered not-for-profit charitable organizations may make application to the Fire Chief requesting a permit fee exemption.
Rural area brush burning - notification, not permit (Section 2.1-2.3)
No person shall conduct... an open air burning in the rural area which is not authorized under Section 1.2, 1.3 or 1.4 without first notifying the Chief (24 Hrs. Prior) or his/her designate in person or by website/telephone... open air burnings may be conducted between % hour after sunrise and % hour prior to sunset... open air burnings shall be confined to an area which is at least 45 metres (150 feet) from any building, highway, road, or a wooded area.
A live readout of air quality, wind and fire danger for Southwest Middlesex — free, for any municipality, customer or not. See it and get the link.
By-laws change. This page summarises public documents and is not legal advice or permission to burn — Southwest Middlesex Fire Department decides.