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Orangeville Council extends burning hours for fire permit holders

March 21, 2022   ·   0 Comments

By Sam Odrowski

A temporary measure is becoming permanent with respect to open air fires in Orangeville resident’s backyards.

Council passed a bylaw last spring extending outdoor burning hours from 6 p.m.-11 p.m. to 12 p.m.-11 p.m., providing residents with a wider window of time to enjoy fires in their backyard. This came as COVID-19 pandemic restrictions were keeping people at home.

In a 4-3 vote during an Orangeville Council meeting last Monday (March 8), councillors voted to make the measure permanent.

Deputy Mayor Andy Macintosh, who formerly served as Orangeville Fire Chief for 16 years, was quick to voice his opposition for extending the times when people can have fires outdoors.

“Believe it or not, I don’t support this. When the last Council did the new [fire] bylaw, this was one of the only areas I agreed with them was limiting the hours from 6:00 to 11 [p.m.],” he said. “I supported it before that because of the pandemic and the wish that people wanted to have all day fires.”

Deputy Mayor Macintosh added that in his experience, when people are burning earlier in the day, at noon or early afternoon, they’re typically not doing it for the ambience. It’s generally for burning garbage.

“That’s one of the reasons I just can’t support extending this. I didn’t mind doing it before but enough’s enough.”

Orangeville resident, Christopher Morton, delivered a presentation to Council prior to their vote on the open air fire bylaw.

During his remarks, Morton expressed concerns with the sensitive receptor portion of the bylaw, which allows a group or individual who has a sensitivity to smoke to register with the Town. Being placed on the registry prevents fires from being lit within 45 meters of your property lines.

Morton said the reality of the bylaw is that someone can register as a sensitive receptor without proof of a smoke sensitivity, which can prevent their neighbours from enjoying their properties with backyard fires.

He also expressed concerns about how someone can smoke in front of their house without limitations, while someone trying to have a fire would face restrictions. As well, Morton noted that the sensitive receptor registry could be used as a weapon to punish a neighbour who’s having a dispute with another neighbour.

He reasoned that a well-maintained fire, operated by a resident who is following fire safety rules and regulations, would produce little to no toxic effects from smoke or odours.

“Burn permits are a small window of the day, and for large buildings, HVAC systems can filter out fires and nuisance toxins from a properly maintained fire,” Morton explained.

He argues that the bylaw is restricting “law abiding and responsible property owners and renters from the results of a few who do not follow the rules.” 

Morton lives within range of a sensitive receptor, which is preventing him from being able to hold a burn permit.

Mayor Sandy Brown said he feels the sensitive receptor portion of the fire bylaw is unnecessary and voiced his opposition.

“I think it’s ludicrous that we can sit on the back porch of our townhouse and smoke tobacco or cannabis and blow it 10 feet into the neighbour’s yard, and we’re allowed to do that,” he remarked.

“Here, Mr. Morton wants to have a dry fire in his backyard with his kids and this is a problem. This is, it’s almost a Charter of Rights and freedom issue. I think it’s ridiculous. And I’d be happy to see it come before Council before the next Council session ends.”

Orangeville issued 291 burn permits in 2019 and received 11 complaints, while it issued 453 permits in 2020 with 39 complaints, and 494 permits in 2021 with 35 complaints.

With respect to complaints over backyard fires, Orangeville Fire Chief Ron Morden said most complaints are handled after one quick visit, with only a few locations being repeat offenders in the town.

Council’s next meeting is scheduled for next Monday (March 21).

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