Peachland may no longer require permit for campfire

Peachland residents who want to enjoy a campfire on their own property shouldn’t have to get a permit, city staff suggest.

Municipal managers suggest Peachland follow the lead of several other Okanagan communities and do away with the current requirement that people get a permit from the fire department before lighting a campfire.

However, staff also recommend the maximum size of a campfire on private property in Peachland be reduced to one-half square metre from one square metre.

Town council told staff July 12 to investigate current campfire regulations in other Okanagan communities.

Staff contacted 24 towns and cities, and 17 responded. Of those, it emerged that Lumby, Keremeos, Salmon Arm, Spallumcheen, Lake Country, Sicamous, Summerland, Princeton, West Kelowna and the three main regional districts all allow campfires on private property.

And only Salmon Arm requires people to get a permit from the fire department.

Osoyoos, Kelowna, Penticton, Armstrong and Oliver have bylaws against campfires on private property.

“Based on the data collected, consideration should be given to amend the District of Peachland’s Fire and Life Safety and Smoke Control bylaw to remove the requirement for campfire permits and tighten the regulation on the size of the campfire, from one metre by one metre to 0.5 metre by 0.5 metre to be consistent with other communities,” says a Peachland staff report.

Summerland, Vernon, Salmon Arm and Penticton allow campfires on public beaches in designated areas, but Peachland staff do not recommend the municipality’s current ban on waterfront fires be lifted.