CENTRE WELLINGTON – While front-yard campfires are not currently permitted in the township's urban areas, council is renewing its efforts to prevent them with an updated bylaw.
Approved during council Monday afternoon, a new report said that while the open-air burning bylaw has always restricted campfires and burns to back and side yards within "an urban setting," staff have continued to notice and attend calls for service where residents were having campfires in their respective front-yards.
Proposed by Centre Wellington Fire Rescue, fire chief Tom Mulvey said the bylaw clarification is mostly for safety, as front lawn fires are accessible to people and children walking by, pets on and off leash, and serve as a distraction for people driving by.
While no public comments were received against the updated bylaw, Coun. Barb Evoy said several residents asked her before the meeting whether restrictions can be included in the bylaw for residents experiencing things like breathing issues because of their neighbours heavy burning.
According to staff, if a resident is bothered by a neighbour's fire, they should have a conversation with the person about its impact and report them if they're burning outside regulations. A bylaw officer can also be brought in to provide additional input.
Isabel Buckmaster is the Local Journalism Initiative reporter for GuelphToday. LJI is a federally-funded program.
