The Portage Fire Department reminds you it is necessary to have a permit for you outdoor fire pit.

Captain Corey Jowett explains there is no cost for the process of obtaining a permit, you just have to come down to the fire hall and fill in some paperwork.

"[You] just have to fill it out, fill in all the blanks. There's a spot to do a diagram for the yard. Attached to the permit is a copy of the city by-lay regarding open-air burning, so it lays out the requirements for the pit itself. Once that's all completed [you] give us a call and we come by for the inspection and [you're] good to have fires after that."

He notes if you don't have a permit, and the fire department receives a complaint, you may receive a visit from them and be asked to extinguish the fire. Jowett adds if this happens, you could possibly also be fined by the city.