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Pastor says he only burns wood in Perreault St. furnace

Denies accusations that garbage, other materials are burned
190516_DM_incinerator
The pastor at a Christian centre in the Flour Mill says he's puzzled why his neighbours are claiming he's burning garbage in his outdoor incinerator. File photo.

The pastor at a Christian centre in the Flour Mill says he's puzzled why his neighbours are claiming he's burning garbage in his outdoor incinerator.

Pastor Klaus Saari of the Abundant Life Healing Centre on Perreault Street was reacting to comments from some of his neighbours, who held a community meeting recently about the smoke that's coming from the property.

In an email, Saari said he only burns wood, which he is allowed to do.

“I am totally shocked at the statements made by people in our neighbourhood,” Saari said. “We had made some improvements on our wood furnace to see if we can improve our wood furnace performance, which we did in September 2015.”

But Lorraine Emond, who lives near the site on Perreault Street, told Sudbury.com on May 19 that the foul smell from the property has plagued her and her neighbours for the last few years. 

"We've had about three years of trouble,” said Emond, who has lived in the area for the last 28 years. “They burn everything. Not just wood ... The whole neighbourhood is complaining."

She said kids who skate on a nearby rink in winter go home reeking of smoke from the incinerator. In summer, she said people can't open their windows or their homes will reek, too.

"It's especially bad at night (when) they like to burn their garbage,” she said. "If you open your windows at night, you wake up coughing ... I have to use my puffers -- everybody is coughing."

On Tuesday, the city's bylaw, building control and fire departments, MPAC as well as staff from Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change visited the property. City communications officer Shannon Dowling said Friday they are still looking into the matter. 

But Saari said the visit confirmed they only burn wood.

“We had the Ministry of Environment confirm that we have only burn what is allowed (in) our wood furnace and there is no sign of burning anything that is not allowed,” he said. “We have never burned garbage in our wood furnace. We take our garbage to the dump. Our heart's interest is to improve our wood furnace so our neighbourhood will be satisfied in living here. 

“We have members of our congregation who attend our services every week on Wednesday, Sunday morning and night. It is amazing that our own people had not complained about being smoked out by the furnace in coming and attending our church.

"It is sad that the public has been misinformed about our wood burning furnace."


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