New by-law concerning backyard fires takes effect Monday
Posted Feb 26, 2013 05:48:08 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The Kitchener Community and Infrastructure Services Committee met Monday to talk about the new by-law for Kitchener about backyard fires.
Several changes will be made, but Councillor Kelly Galloway-Sealock says most were already put into effect last August.
She says the biggest change will be regarding chronic violators of the fire by-law. Stricter enforcement means that after two convictions, violators will be prohibited from having open air fires on their property for five years.
The city is also in talks with the province about the fees that will be attached to fire by-law violation tickets.
Another change that will become permanent is fires will only allowed between 6
and 11-pm and must be five metres away from any structure.
A small difference is in the wording. Fire pits and fireplaces will be termed recreational fires, to make the by-law all encompassing.
Something else that’s been added is who can declare fire bans. Previously, the fire chief could ban backyard fires due to extreme dry weather conditions. Now, the by-law enforcement director will be able to declare a ban because of smog advisories.
Galloway-Sealock adds Bingemans is currently exempt from the 6-11-pm rule because of their use and council decided to also exempt them from the smog advisory rule as well. She says the park would like to be exempt from the dry conditions ban as well, but they are still in talks with the city.
Some delegates did come to the meeting and propose a complete fire ban for Kitchener, but council voted 7-3 in favour to move forward with the current draft by-law as.
The new by-law will be implemented on Monday.
