The Cardigan fire department is going to start billing people who start illegal grass fires in the eastern P.E.I. community.

Fire Chief Dwayne MacIntyre told CBC News Tuesday his firefighters are spending too much time dousing fires in lawns and fields. Starting immediately, if the department is called to put out a grass fire the resident can expect a bill with an hourly rate for each firefighter on the scene.

"You would probably look at getting $16 to $18 an hour to fight a grass fire. We're doing this as more of a deterrent, hoping that people will not light grass fires," said MacIntyre.

"We didn't go to volunteer our time to fight grass fires, we're out there to help people with house fires or if their life's being threatened....When you light a grass fire, you're threatening homes and other buildings."

At $16 to $18 an hour costs go up quickly, said MacIntyre. He estimates a grass fire two weeks ago cost around $800 to extinguish.