Friday May 30, 2008 / RUSHHOUR CITY / 4 Edmonton-Susan Copeland, Bylaw Community Relations, shows how damp grass adds to the smoke in a back yard fire pit on Thursday May 29.-photo by John Lucas/Edmonton Journal (For a City story by Intern?)
Photograph by: John Lucas , Edmonton Journal
The rules for backyard fires could become a little tighter after councillors recommended Monday banning nuisance blazes that harm the health of neighbours.
The proposed bylaw amendments, which must still be passed next week by city council, allow the city to order people to move their firepits, use them less frequently or only burn at certain times if they’re disturbing the peace, which includes hurting the health of someone else.
“This is one extraordinary tool for those who can’t work it out with their neighbour,” Coun. Bev Esslinger said.
“This could be someone, they have tried and tried, they’re on an oxygen tank … For those who are at the end of their rope this is a tool we can use to support them.”
Violators, along with people who use their firepits when Edmonton has a fire ban, face a $250 fine.
