Fire department cracking down on fire pit violations
A new time limit on backyard fires has failed to produce a barrage of complaints, but the Saskatoon Fire Department is getting tougher with violations.
Since city council voted to impose a 2 p.m. to 11 p.m. time limit for backyard fires in April, the fire department has only issued four tickets for fires burning outside the nine-hour window.
But through the first six months of 2018 the fire department has issued 16 tickets for failing to comply with the city’s open-air fire bylaw. That compares to a single fine in each of the past two years.
Nine of the fines in 2018 have been issued for an improper pit or receptacle, such as the absence of a grate to prevent the spread of sparks.
“I think those numbers are somewhat similar to what we’re seeing in past years,” assistant fire chief Wayne Rodger said in an interview Tuesday.
Rodger said the fire department has also issued five orders to repair or remove a fire-burning apparatus.
Through the first six months, the fire department has received 112 complaints, which is down from 126 last year and up from 102 in 2016.
“Interestingly enough, we see the numbers have actually dropped roughly about 10 per cent from last year,” Rodger added. “So I want to say that’s the awareness that’s been generated on this topic over the last year, that people are actually being more considerate to their neighbours and understanding.”
The initial fine for a violation of the city’s open-air fires bylaw is $200. A fire truck with its entire crew is sent out to respond to backyard fire complaints since firefighters must remain together in case an emergency response is needed.
The proposal for a time limit on backyard fires prompted a divisive debate in the city and on city council, which voted 6-5 in favour in April.
The debate focused on whether a time limit would help address the nuisance fires and smoke in some neighbourhoods or whether more effective enforcement of the existing bylaw would suffice.
In 2017, despite 236 total calls, the fire department issued just one ticket, along with 61 warnings. In 2016, the fire department gave 10 warnings and a single fine on 192 complaints.
Fire Chief Morgan Hackl promised more effective enforcement of the bylaw in 2018. Just a single warning has been issued in the first six months of this year alongside the 16 fines.
Three residents were fined for burning after the 11 p.m. curfew, while one was cited for burning prior to 2 p.m.
“Have those healthy relationships with your neighbours, so that they’re aware that you’re going to have an event or a party or a fire in your backyard so that they themselves are not caught unaware,” Rodger said.