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Burn on, says council after consideration of fire pit ban

Feb 6, 2018 | 9:42 AM

Red Deerians will still be able to enjoy backyard fires this summer.

City council considered the matter on Monday following a June 2017 request from a resident to ban outdoor wood fire pits over air quality, nuisance and health concerns.

Susan Hartman had written the City saying some residents are detrimentally affected by smoke, adding Red Deer’s air quality is not good during most summers, and that The City’s current Fire Permit Bylaw is “antiquated.”

“Times are changing. We have rid public places of cigarette smoke,” she wrote. “Please, I can’t breathe. It is time to stop the burning.”

This week, council received a subsequent report stating there is no evidence to suggest the use of outdoor wood fire pits contribute to poor air quality. Wood smoke is a source of primary fine particulate matter, the report said, but that does not appear to be a key component of Red Deer’s particulate matter issue.

Any nuisance-related incidents which occurred during the review were dealt with via education and enforcement.

Four complaints of nuisance fires were received by The City between 2012 and 2016.

Under the current bylaw, the Fire Chief can issue a complete fire ban based on air quality index levels. To date, this component of the Fire Permit Bylaw has never been enacted.