Burning regulations tightened
Tougher smoke controls for land-clearing operations and farming practices have received final approval from West Kelowna city council.
The rules acknowledge that open burning is often necessary — and in fact can help to prevent larger, out-of-control Àres in the future — but set tighter restrictions on when controlled burns can be ignited.
“Fire mitigation activities often involve open burning as it is the most efÀcient and effective method of disposing of (debris wood),” Àre Chief Jason Brolund wrote in a report to council.
But the revised regulations state the only acceptable way for developers to set Àre to trees cleared for a future housing site is through the use of an air curtain burner.
A common method in the past was simply to gather up the cut trees in a pile and set them alight, a practice which produced a considerable amount of smoke. Air curtain burners are incinerators that use fan-forced air to improve combustion and reduce smoke.
When used, air curtain burners must be kept at least 100 metres away from any building, forest or property line. Users must also advise neighbouring property owners when the air curtain burners are to be ignited.
Air curtain burners cannot be used before 10 a.m., adequate ÀreÀghting equipment must be kept on site and the operation must be continuously monitored. The revised regulations also state that “no visible smoke” must be produced.
For West Kelowna farmers burning off tree prunings and other agricultural debris, the Àres must be kept at least 50 metres from any building, forest or property line. The previous minimum setback was 30 metres.
As well, farmers given a permit for open burning cannot set Àres when the air quality is poorer than a PM 2.5 concentration of 15 micrograms per cubic metre, as referenced by provincial and federal monitoring devices. Previous regulations stated only that open burning could not take place during times of “poor air quality conditions.”
Fines for violating various sections of the revised burning bylaw range from $250 to $500.