Locals will now be able to have a fire in their backyard free of charge. In a 4-2 decision, Woodstock Council voted to allow open air burning in the city with no fees, a five year permit renewal and you must get your indoor smoke alarm tested upon site inspection. They also voted to add a medical concern component. Councillor Paul Plant says he just couldn't justify charging residents a fee for the permit. "There were a lot of people that were single mothers or people that were on a fixed income that were saying you know, I only do it six times a year or so and it's cheap entertainment and I have some of my older friends that live in apartments come over and especially the every year thing, it just seemed like too much money." As for the in home smoke alarm inspection Plant says "far more people get seriously ill or die from, and we have a good case history in Woodstock that resulted in a private members bill that's having trouble getting through, of someone dying from that so if you're going out to check the fire pit, why not check something that counts 24/7, 365 days a year." Councillor Bill Bes stated he would like to see open air burning completely prohibited in Woodstock within the next 6-7 years.
A Suspended Driver Charged in Woodstock
A Pair of Locals are in the Senate Page Program
Woodstock Man Charged in Traffic Incident
Christmas Tree Pickup in Oxford County
Weather Warning Issued for Oxford County
Holiday Closures in Woodstock
Multiple Charges Laid to Woodstock Man
Fog Advisory Issued for Oxford
Tip Tuesday with Oxford OPP - December 2025
Holiday Waste Collection Tips from Oxford County
UPDATE: CFIA Reports 20 Illnesses Connected to Recall
UPDATE: Charges Laid in Highway Hit-and-Run
Charges Laid after Altercation in Delhi
Oxford OPP Briefs - Dec. 22nd, 2025
PJHL Recap - Dec 19th to Dec 21st
Operation Sharing to Host Christmas Day
Two Woodstonians Face Drug Trafficking Charges
One Killed in Highway 401 Crash
Charges Laid After OPP Officers Injured
PJHL Preview - Dec. 19th to Dec. 21st
