Saint John is the only major New Brunswick city without an outdoor fire bylaw — but that could be about to change.
A proposed bylaw to regulate outside burning within city limits was presented to Saint John council on Monday night.
Fire Chief Rob Nichol said while the city currently has fire safety guidelines, it has no ability to regulate outdoor fires.
“Adoption of this bylaw formalizes what has been achieved through the guidelines and also adds enforceability and a requirement to adhere to the Provincial Forest Fire Watch, no burn periods or times,” Nichol told council.
Up until now, Saint John residents could still have a fire in their backyard even if the rest of the province was under a burn ban.
The proposed bylaw comes as the city sees ongoing impacts from climate change, including more hotter days and more frequent wildfires.
Similar to the current guidelines already in place, residents would not need a permit for an outdoor firepit on owner-occupied property.
They would have to use screening to reduce the dispersion of large embers and have a means of extinguishing the fire nearby.
It also outlines how far the fire must be away from structures and combustibles and limits fuel types to clean dry wood.
Open flame barbeques (wood chip or charcoal) and propane or natural gas fueled outdoor fireplaces (fire bowls) are exempt from the bylaw.
The bylaw also creates a permitting mechanism to allow open fires for cultural, religious, charitable, educational or community events, as well as commercial purposes where an open fire is a function of the business.
Nichol has said while the bylaw includes fines — ranging from $140 to $2,100 — the department’s main goal would be education.
Council approved the first and second reading of the bylaw. It is scheduled to come back for third and final reading on Feb. 10.
