BACKYARD FIRE PITS
Council taking another look at open-air fires
Saskatoon’s fire department has found that backyard fire pits do not result in dangerous fires, but they may pose health issues for people who struggle with breathing and heart ailments.
The fire department’s report on fire pits is on the agenda for consideration at Monday’s meeting of city council’s planning, development and community services committee.
“There is no record of a structural or wildland fire being caused by an open-air fire.” states the report, written by assistant chief Wayne Rodger.
The fire department received 192 complaints about backyard fires in 2016, down slightly from 195 in 2015. It also received 38 written submissions in 2016 urging a ban on open-air fires due to health concerns about the effects of smoke.
The same committee that will consider the report on Monday asked for a review in March 2016.
The report also notes that black carbon included in the emissions from wood fires contributes “significantly” to climate change, but not to the same degree as carbon dioxide.
Smoke affects the health of the elderly and young children and people with lung issues more than others, the report says.
Although it does not back a specific course of action, it does present the following options: no change; limiting open-air fires to certain hours and/or certain days of the week; requiring a permit for open-air fires; or banning them.
Canada’s three largest cities, Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal, prohibit open-air fires; others, like Calgary, Winnipeg and Mississauga, allow them, the report notes.
The current bylaw governing backyard fires sets rules on their size and the material involved in the fire receptacle. Fires can only be set in non-flammable receptacles made of steel, brick or concrete that are no larger than 0.61 metres across.
The bylaw also prohibits burning any material other than charcoal and cut wood; it specifically bans burning garbage, manure, plastic or animal carcasses.
Fires are also supposed to be supervised and must be extinguished if they result in an annoying level of smoke near neighbouring properties.