The new Savary Island Fire Bylaw was adopted on June 27, 2019. It allows everyone to better anticipate burning restrictions, as well as reduce the risk of wildfire in the hot dry peak of summer. Here are some of the key revisions to the old bylaw:
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- A maximum penalty of $2,000 for violating any provision in the bylaw.
- Burn piles (i.e. backyard burns, contractor burns) will be prohibited during the months of June, July, August, and September.
- Campfires will be prohibited during the months of July, August, and September.
- Fire Chief can announce prohibitions at any other time of year if necessary.
- Fire Chief can prohibit high-risk activities if conditions warrant it.
- High-risk activities are clearly identified in the proposed bylaw.
It is hoped that this bylaw will reduce the fire callouts that still occur every summer on Savary Island. These 9-1-1 callouts require that the Savary Island Volunteer Fire Department (SIVFD) attend and extinguish outdoor fires, incur costs to the department, and put Savary Island at risk of costly and potentially dangerous wildfires. Download the Savary Island Outdoor Fire Control Bylaw No. 549 here: Savary Island Fire Bylaw No. 549
For further information contact Ryan Thoms, qRD Manager of Emergency Services, at RThoms@qathet.ca