New rules requires site visit, inspection for open air burning

The city is getting ready to bring in new rules for anyone who starts an outdoor fire within city limits.

First approved in November during the budget process, city councillors approved a plan to charge $50 a year for the permits, $10 for a week, or $25 to renew your annual permit. The move is forecast to bring in $10,000 in new revenue.

A report going to the community services committee April 18 says residents traditionally have been allowed to start fires in the city without a permit or cost.

“This has led to the mistaken assumption on the part of the citizens that this ability is a right and not a privilege granted by the fire chief under the authority of the Fire Prevention and Protection Act,” the report says. “This will be changing in 2016 with the establishment of a permit and an annual fee for almost all open air (burning). This initiative amounts to a change from reactive response to proactive approval.”

Up until now, fire crews have responded to open air burning complaints, often finding the fire didn't conform to the safety standards set out in the bylaw. That meant the rules were being enforced only after the fact, with residents usually unaware of the rules they were supposed to follow, the report said.

“Also, the volunteer response areas of the city were obliged to dispatch for open air burning complaints based on the nature of the complaint, which often would dispatch an entire station of up to 15 firefighters for the fire complaint,” the report said. “This is a costly practice which also commits precious resources which may be needed elsewhere for emergency response.”

Under the new rules, residents will have to get a permit first. Fire staff will visit the site for an inspection and explain the terms of the bylaw.

“The fee for the site visit inspection includes processing and will vary as per the type of permit applied for,” the report said. “The fee is designed to be a cost-recovery amount and not to necessarily generate profit for the (Greater Sudbury Fire Services).”

Enforcement will be easier, the report said, because in most cases when a complaint is received, the issue will most likely be the failure to get a permit.

“An additional inclusion in the process is the inspection of the homeowner’s smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms,” the report said. “This ensures compliance with the related provincial legislation, and further ensures the safety of the residents and the responding fire personnel in the event of an occurrence.”

Before the permits become law, however, councillors will have to amend the current bylaw to add the permit requirements. A communications strategy is also planned to inform the public of the new requirements.