June 15, 2009
We just received a community newsletter (dated June 12, 2009) from the District of Kitimat & Fire Department stating that no backyard fires were allowed within Kitimat, either in enclosed appliances, or not, unless you are a “small holding” property at certain addresses/areas, but not as regular titled owners, such as ourselves.
The letter did not seem like an amendment notice to any such existing bylaw (If there is one – I can’t find it online) but went on to quote a section of it;
“No person shall at any time light, ignite or start or knowingly permit, allow, or cause to be ignited or started, any fire of any kind whatsoever in the open air except where such fire is used in any appliance or device solely used for the preparation of food…”
I am extremely upset by this. (and that’s putting it mildly) We pay taxes like “Small property holders” in and around Kitimat, we should be allowed the same entitlements as they are.
Last year, not knowing the bylaws, we specifically called the District of Kitimat “BEFORE” purchasing a $200.00+ screened in/covered outside fireplace to use on our bricked backyard patio to cook hotdogs / marshmallows, etc, or simply to enjoy a small fire no and again. We took great pains to ensure that all fires remained small and that no sparks traveled to neighboring houses or yards.
At the time of our call, we were told (by the District of Kitimat’s Office) that as long as our CSA approved appliance was covered (included a chimney stack) and screened-in, and approved for use in BC, that it was permitted to be used here in Kitimat on our property as well. Armed with that permission, we purchased one in Terrace at Canadian Tire.
We made that effort (not something many others would do beforehand) to find out from the District of Kitimat’s Office what was and wasn’t allowed in Kitimat before we went ahead and bought our fireplace, now were are told we cannot use it?
This is NOT right!!!
Do I expect the fire brigade everytime we want to roast weiners with it now? (Something they say in the letter we may use it for…) or should we call the Fire Department each and everytime we cook or tell them we are only roasting wieners this coming weekend, etc?
If we are not allowed to use it for its intended purpose without the stress of our busy-body neighbors phoning it in on us, (Note: One of our neighbors (And yes, we know which one of you it was, by the way) phoned the District “before” we actually moved in 3 years ago to make certain we knew that were not allowed to increase our roof to more than 30 feet in height in total … lol) Talk about nosy neighbors… this area is generally known as Snob-hill around here… for good reason
At any rate, I feel the District should replace what it cost us to purchase it, or compensate all of us who bought one under the same premis us in some way, considering it was by their own permission given to us, that we went ahead on the purchase to begin with.
It’s bad enough that we have to suffer damage done to our lawns and fences by their snowplow operators without them compensating us in any way. This last issue though is just one more thorn in my backside that we (And others like us) have to endure.
I want my money back!
Another thing, if “calling” the District for “important” information, such as this, cannot be relied upon at any time, where can one read (and get a copy) of the bylaws for themselves? Hmm…You don’t immediately see them on the website anywhere….
Re Snow removal – Why don’t they utilize our tax money in a more constructive and economical way – truck that snow out of town like other normal towns and cities do? I don’t appreciate them killing our lawns with all that road salt and making us clean up the gravel piles left behind by them!
