Open burning in the City of Kelowna

(Photo: Flickr user - mr-numb)

Every year the Kelowna Fire Department responds to numerous burning complaints across the City primarily during the regular burning season between October 1st and April 30th. On many of those occurrences the property representatives were unaware of the local bylaws in place that only permit burning under certain circumstances. So, I have provided some information on Fire Prevention Regulation Bylaw for the City of Kelowna pertaining to open burning.

For starters, no person shall start or permit a fire of any kind whatsoever in the open air within the City of Kelowna, without first having obtained a written permit to do so from the Fire Department.

In order to qualify for a permit, the property in which burning is to take place must be at least (1) one hectare (2.47 acres) in size. A minimum of (30) thirty meters must be maintained between the fire location and any building or forested area.

Permit holders shall ensure that no fire be started before 07:00 AM and be extinguished completely before sunset of the same day, unless special permission is granted, in writing, by the Fire Chief or his Inspectors. E.g.: large permitted burning materials such as stumps and other materials over (8) eight inches in diameter that have dried in accordance with the bylaw, may be maintained for a maximum of (72) seventy-two hours if the fire is substantially smokeless. However no further permitted burning materials shall be added to a fire after 5:00 PM (17:00 hours) of each day of the fire.

All materials to be burned must originate from the property and are restricted to prunings, dry piled weeds, needles and leaves. Stumps or other materials in excess of (8) eight inches in diameter shall not be burned unless they have been allowed to dry for at least (2) two years or to the satisfaction of the Fire Chief.

No person shall burn on any permit, rubber tires, oil, petroleum products of any kind, tar, asphalt products, batteries, plastic, un-dried materials of any kind, unless special permission is granted, in writing, by the Fire Chief or his Inspectors.

The operation of a domestic outdoor or backyard incinerator or any structure serving as a domestic outdoor incinerator is expressly prohibited.

It is also unlawful for any person to burn or to permit, or cause to be burned within the City of Kelowna, any materials resulting from the demolition or construction of any structure.

Under local government bylaws, the fire chief has the authority to shorten or extend the burning season depending on the fire hazard.  Normally open burning permits are available to qualified property owners between October 1st and April 30th.  If the fire hazard rises, residents with permits should be aware that Open Burning and issued permits may be cancelled by fire authorities.  Local media will be advised if there are any changes to the burning season. This year serves as an example where fire risks were high leading into the burning season, resulting in the start of burn season being delayed from October 1st to November 1st pending weather conditions.

The Fire Chief may issue a special permit to allow burning of woody debris for the purpose of fuel reduction or hazard abatement on private or public property. Special permits will not be issued for the open burning of wood, trees, stumps, shrubbery and woody debris that results from the land being cleared or partially cleared of vegetation to help prepare the land for a different non-farming use.

Despite the issuance of a burning permit, open burning is prohibited when the venting index is less than 65 or the particulate matter PM 2.5 concentration (24 hour rolling average) is 15 ug/m3 or greater. Permit holders are required to ensure these conditions on the day they want to burn.

Outdoor Burning Hotline: 1-855-262-2876 (BURN).

Two of the most common questions the Fire Department receives are:

1. Can we have a campfire in the City of Kelowna? The answer is no. Campfires are not permitted within the City of Kelowna boundaries.

2. Can we have an outdoor fire pit or outdoor fire place? The answer is Yes you can, provided you meet the following;

• The appliance is CSA/ULC, CGA or equivalent approved;
• The appliance is fuelled by natural gas, propane, or charcoal briquette;
• A minimum of 1 meter clearance to combustibles must be maintained from the nearest structure, property line, overhead tree or other combustible material;
• The installation of a gas fuelled appliance must be approved by the authority having jurisdiction and installed in accordance to manufacturers specifications;
• The operator must keep the unit under constant supervision when in use;
• Provide an adequate extinguishing agent such as a fire extinguisher or garden hose; and
• No person shall burn or allow to be burned, refuse, waste or wood in a barbeque, outdoor fire pit or outdoor fireplace.

In addition to any other remedy or offence imposed by the Fire Prevention Regulation Bylaw, a person who starts a fire without a permit may be responsible for the costs of providing the additional personnel and equipment that the Fire Chief may deem necessary to extinguish the fire or to suppress any escape or threatened escape of the fire.

For full details on open burning regulations, contact your local Fire Department.

This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.