Saskatoon city council snuffed the debate on when people can have a fire in backyard pits at Monday’s meeting. The discussion will be reignited at the next meeting on March 26.
A decision to restrict fire pit usage except between 5 p.m. and 11 p.m. CT was expected Monday afternoon, but councillors voted to wait until the next council meeting when the Saskatoon Fire Department is expected to bring forward a report detailing the option of registering fire pits.
“I’m not interested in going beyond 11 p.m.,” Ward 3 Coun. Ann Iwanchuk said.
“I’ve heard loud and clear from many people that is really the worst time of the evening for them they can’t open their windows and they can’t go to bed.”
While Iwanchuk wants to stick to the 11 p.m. cut off, she may be willing to vote in favour of allowing for burning prior to 5 p.m. if residents register their pits.
The report expected from the fire department will possibly detail a registration system that requires residents to familiarize themselves with the existing rules regarding materials that can be burnt and smoke considerations in relation to neighbours.
“If the rules are being followed, there should be less problems with the fire pits,” Iwanchuk said.
There is a petition with over 10,000 signatures opposing changes to the bylaw.