Kent Readman. Zoom screenshot
You soon will be required to have a permit to have a campfire in the City of Dryden.
Council is expected to approve Monday proposed changes to the Open Air Burning and Campfire By-law.
A one-time yearly permit at no cost will be required to have a campfire.
Dryden Fire Chief Kent Readman says, “It’s more for compliance. It’s more of an education thing. So, when you apply for a campfire permit, you read all the rules when you apply, you get the copy of the bylaw and everything else.”
Readman adds, “That (campfire) permit also allows us the opportunity to send out messaging because then we have a list at our fingertips of all the people that have permits. So, it also allows us to interact with them. So, we can basically send out a message as soon as we put a fire ban on or a restricted fire zone.”
He notes all residents must do is sign-off at the bottom that they are aware of the rules and regulations, and they will follow them, and they will be covered for the entire fire season.
Readman says an enclosed fire pit will require a permit, but you won’t need one for a propane fire pit or anything that can be shut-off with a valve.
There will also be a restriction on flying lanterns.
He stresses the process to obtain a permit will be digital, streamlined, and easier to use.
Readman states numerous burn and outdoor fire complaints throughout last summer prompted a review of their rules.
In 2020 the Dryden Fire Service responded to the following calls in relation to wildfires and burn complaints:
-Total outdoor burning calls: 29 (12% of total calls)
-Total burn complaint calls: 23
-Total illegal burn complaint calls: 15
-Total burning during a Restricted Fire Zone of Fire Ban calls: 3
-Campfire Charges: 0
Readman notes there were a lot of inconsistencies in the old by-law, and it was hard to read.
He adds it was difficult for people to understand the rules and hard for the Fire Service to enforce the rules.
Readman says they looked at other municipal and provincial rules when adjusting the bylaw and focused on 3 elements including the safety of residents and first responders, noting an outdoor fire can quickly spread resulting in a potential disaster.
In terms of open-air burning, Readman says, “The open-air fires will now get an inspection from us, which will help alleviate some of the concerns. We will send our Fire Prevention officer out. He will just make sure that all those size restrictions and distances from things are in place and approve the permit there.”
This will be required every time you want to burn outdoors such as burning leaves, grass, brush, etc.
Councillor Shayne MacKinnon says he understands there are some who aren’t complying with the current bylaw, and he supports the open-air rules.
However, MacKinnon warns, “I think that we’re going to run into some real resistance and resentment when you tell people that you just can’t read about campfires online, you’re going to have to come and get a permit, so we know that you’re trained.”
He adds, “If I decide we want to cook wieners that night. All of a sudden, I’m going to be turned in because I failed to get my annual campfire permit. I do like education.”
Councillor Norm Bush says, “If I wanted a campfire on Saturday night, so do I have to rush out and get a permit, but if it’s an annual exercise that basically is educational in nature, then I’m a lot more comfortable with that.”
