Council Staff Report - Suspension of Fall Burn Period

Council Staff Report - Suspension of the Fall Burn Period

2nd Floor · 877 Goldstream Avenue · Langford, BC Canada · V9B 2X8
T · 250-478-7882 F · 250-478-7864

Date: October 5, 2020
Department: Fire Rescue
Subject: Suspension of the Fall Burn Period

Background

The City of Langford’s Bylaw 1532 to Regulate Burning, Prevent and Suppress Fires and Regulate People at Fires in the City of Langford allows for a fall burning period from November 1 to November 30 annually. In the Spring of 2020, there was a significant increase in the number of complaints by residents regarding burning due to COVID, resulting in Council suspending the Spring burn period at the March 19, 2020 meeting. Open burning was then later suspended by the Province as it was determined that the smoke from open fires posed a challenge for residents with respiratory issues and COVID recovery.

Commentary

The current policy was initiated in 2014 with the purpose to improve air quality in the community. The changes were effective in reducing the amount of smoke on “burn weekends” by spreading open fires over a month period, as well as limiting permits to a half acre lot or greater. This reduced the amount of complaints we receive from residents about open burning.

As we are in unprecedented territory with the COVID-19 pandemic, overall health and well being are on the minds of all residents. Many sources, including Island Health and the BC Center for Disease Control advise that smoke can create complications with those who have respiratory issues, including COVID-19. It can be expected that similar complaints regarding open burning that prompted the suspension of burning in the Spring will be received in the Fall as we are entering the second wave of COVID-19 and residents will want to avoid exposure to smoke.

There is also a concern on the staff time for both Bylaw and Fire Department staff to manage the open burning process, to deal with complaints and manage the permitting system. With managing the daily requirements of the pandemic (emergency response, workplace safety inspections, educating safe COVID practices) time is better spent on responding to the pandemic rather than maintaining the open burning process and the complaints resulting from it.

In May 2020, Fire Prevention staff and volunteers coordinated a Community Cleanup Day as a FireSmart initiative to provide residents of properties greater than 0.5 acre an opportunity to drop off their yard waste free of charge as they were not permitted to burn in the Spring. The event was very successful with over 40 yards of yard waste collected and over 25 residents participating which helped reduce the amount of fuel on the ground before wildfire season in an environmentally friendly way. Another Community Cleanup Day could be arranged for the Fall to provide an alternative to burning should the Fall burn period be suspended.

Starting September 25, BC Wildfire is again allowing Category 2 and 3 Open Burning to resume in the province. Their decision was primarily based on the fact that the wildfire situation has improved with recent rainfall. It is not known at this time if the Province will reinstitute the open burning ban due to the health effects related to smoke and COVID-19 as we enter the second wave of the pandemic.

Financial Implications

Should Council wish to purse another Community Cleanup Day, the approximate cost will be $1500 based on the costs of the event in the Spring.

Legal Implications

There are no legal implications.

Options

That Council:

1. Suspend the open burning policy for the Fall burn period, but continue to allow campfires and host a Community Cleanup Day as an alternative to burning for 0.5 acre lots or greater;

OR

2. Suspend the open burning policy for the Fall burn period, continue to allow campfires, but do not host a Community Cleanup Day;

OR

3. Make no changes to the open burning policy at this time and allow the Fall burn period to occur.

Respectfully submitted,

Submitted by:
Chris Aubrey, Fire Chief

Concurrence:
Lorne Fletcher, Manager of Community Safety and Municipal Enforcement

Concurrence:
Donna Petrie, Manager of Business Development and Events

Concurrence:
Marie Watmough, Manager of Legislative Services

Concurrence:
Braden Hutchins, Director of Corporate Services

Concurrence:
Darren Kiedyk, Chief Administrative Officer