DO YOU WANT FIRES ALL OVER TOWN? DO THE SURVEY

GRAVENHURST — How do you feel about big bonfires and burning garbage and debris fires in your backyard downtown?

After years of a no burning bylaw — as recommended by the Gravenhurst Fire Department — in the town Wards of 1 and 5, town councillors have voted to call for a survey for input on allowing fires in the most built-up, densely populated areas of town.

Despite all evidence to the contrary, about health risks, public danger, and enivronmental damage and carbon imprint a survey (which is only open to residents in those two wards for some odd reason) is being taken online.

Several fires this year have been contributed to open-air burning, including the loss of a home.

They want to know if you’re in favour of allowing fires all over town, as forest fires continue this summer and the fire rating is just down from high to moderate.

It is currently illegal to burn an open-air fire in these wards. Call 911 if you witness one, and the fire operators will be warned then fined for repeat offenders.

“We need your input on the Open Air Burning Bylaw!”

That’s the opening line ….

“Please take a few minutes to answer the quick questions below and let us know if you would like to see changes to the burning by-law for Ward 1 and In-Town portions of Ward 5.

“Below is a map of the prohibited burning area that is currently in place.

“The highlighted area shows Ward 1 and the In-Town portions of Ward 5.”

See related letter at:

CLIMATE BE DAMNED: TOWN CONSIDERS OPEN BURNING IN URBAN WARDS

The survey can be found at:

https://forms.gravenhurst.ca/Bylaw/Open-Air-Burning-Bylaw-Survey