Debate on fire ban process

Times Contributor

 

Council consulted with Gerald Skibinsky, Manager of Protective Services, Fire, Disaster and Safety Coordinator about concerns they had over the fire ban process.

They noted sometimes bans were lifted just to allow certain burns to take place and the ban wasn’t consistent throughout the county. Currently, a ban is placed when five of the fire guardians agree that a ban is warranted.

“I support the judgement of the fire chiefs,” said Councillor Ben Armstrong, who said it would be difficult for anyone else to determine whether a ban should occur.

Councillors brought up occasions where counties all around Wheatland had bans and Wheatland did not. The conditions had not changed but the ban was lifted. They felt there should be some criteria for setting or lifting a ban. Councillor Ken Sauve noted the conditions might not be the same throughout the county, allowing that certain areas might be safe to burn, where others would not be.

Skibinsky stated that the council had appointed the fire guardians and allowed them to look at the site, get advice from other counties and then take a vote to establish or retract a ban.

They discussed the issue of permit holders burning in a ban and the force of public pressure to lift bans.

“Once you allow special people a permit, people will say ‘I should be able to burn too,” said Skibinsky.

Councillor Ben Armstrong said permit holders would have to be held accountable when they burn.

“Reinforce that permit holders have to cover costs and repercussions when they burn,” said Armstrong.

Skibinsky said permit holders were told they were signing a contract when they applied for the permit. He said the guardians generally knew their residents and their capability of conducting a safe burn. The conditions of the permit card states that the responsibility of a safe burn is the permit holder and no burn should take place in winds of 15 km or greater. The permit holder must attend and have the resources and water to put out the fire. 

Councillors said they wanted to honour their promise to keep the fire departments involved in the decision making process, so they asked Skibinsky to discuss their concerns and develop suggestions for better ways of dealing with bans and bring it back to council. 

Skibinsky also provided council with a copy of Schedule C pertaining to fire recreational fire pits not requiring a permit. (See sidebar-County of Wheatland Recreational Fire Requirements)

He said he has had teens constructing unprotected bonfires in rural areas. 

There are fines listed on the county website ranging from $100-$1,000 for illegal fire practises. Fire bans are also on the county website and usually posted in local papers. Those concerned can phone their local fire guardians or the County of Wheatland.

County of Wheatland guideline on recreational fire pits

• A minimum of four meters (13.12 ft) clearance is maintained from buildings, property lines and combustible materials, or as approved by the local authority having jurisdiction.

• It is constructed of bricks, concrete blocks, or heavy gauge metal or other suitable non-combustible materials.

• Has a spark arrester mesh screen of .7 cm (.25 in) expanded metal or equivalent, to contain sparks over the fire at all times.

• Be supervised at all times by a responsible adult until the fire has been extinguished. A fire shall be deemed to include hot ashes and smoldering embers from the fire.

• Only seasoned wood, charcoal briquettes, propane or natural gas fuels are used.

• Flame height does not exceed 100 cm (3.28 ft) above the incinerator, barbeque or fire pit.