You won't need to buy a fire permit to roast marshmallows in your backyard this summer, after all.
Meeting Tuesday, councillors officially reversed a decision they made late last year to force homeowners to get a firefighter to visit their home to issue a permit.
“We live here because we love the outdoors,” said Ward 7 Coun. Mike Jakubo. “One of the ways we do that is through backyard fires.”
Jakubo said that the permit system was prompted by the small minority of residents who weren't being safe with their fires.
“We were really penalizing everyone for the actions of five per cent,” Jakubo said.
Ward 12 Coun. Joscelyne Landry-Altmann was more blunt.
“We had full knowledge of what we were doing,” Landry-Altmann said. “If that was a mistake, it was a mistake. Let's own it.”
The backlash from the public prompted councillors to change their minds, she added.
Mayor Brian Bigger agreed.
“The public clearly was not in favour of this,” Bigger said. “Understanding the impact on citizens (is) why it has come back for reconsideration. It's a citywide issue (that) impacts all wards.”
Councillors did want to reform the bylaw to look for ways to hold people who light unsafe backyard fires responsible when the fire department is called. The matter was referred to the newly created emergency services committee.
