An update to the municipal fire and life safety bylaw could restrict the use of fireworks to just four days a year.
The bylaw—introduced and given first three readings at the Dec. 17 council meeting—seeks to limit fireworks in the resort to four days a year (Jan. 1, Oct. 31, Nov. 1 and Dec. 31).
High-hazard fireworks displays and pyrotechnics (like those used in the Fire and Ice show) will still be allowed with a permit.
"Confining consumer fireworks to the four days will make a meaningful reduction to the fire hazard," said protective services planning analyst Kevin Creery in a presentation to council.
The bylaw amendment also consolidates all existing fire bylaws under one legislative roof, and updates it to be consistent with current practices and regulations.
In building the new bylaw, RMOW staff referenced fire bylaws in other municipalities including the City of Vancouver and District of West Vancouver.
Campfires will still require a permit, and may still be banned during high fire danger periods. Backyard burning of garden debris is also prohibited under the new bylaw.
The bylaw also includes an increase to fees for false alarms: the first and second alarm within a 12-month period is free, while a third false alarm will cost you $200 and a fourth (and each subsequent incident) will cost you $300.
Council also heard an update on the Resort Municipality of Whistler's 2019 wildfire work at the Dec. 17 meeting.
As it has in past years, the efforts focused on three key areas: wildfire fuel reduction projects, FireSmart public education and support, and policy development and improvements, said environmental stewardship manager Heather Beresford.
Fuel-thinning work around Kadenwood was completed in October, while a project targeting a 16-hectare site on the western edge of Lost Lake got underway in the fall and will be completed in spring 2020.
Work on the Cheakamus Lake Forest Service Road is ongoing, with 32 hectares treated and another 40 on tap for the next year.
The WFRS conducted fuel thinning at eight high-priority areas, mainly related to water and sewer infrastructure, as well as at 15 medium and 31 low-priority sites.
The FireSmart program was also busy in 2019, running two crews of three from May to October.
The community chipper service removed vegetation from more than 250 properties, and the adopt-a-trail program carried on with four community groups donating time.
In 2020, the RMOW will carry on with its focus on the three priority areas.
Fuel reduction on Cheakamus Lake Road is expected to be finished in Spring 2020, and a project at Spruce Grove/White Gold by summer 2020.
The RMOW budgeted about $1.4 million for the wildfire program in 2019, plus $400,000 for the FireSmart program from protective services.
The 2020 budget includes $4.1 million over five years for community wildfire protection (which will be used for fuel-thinning work) and an additional $260,000 for trail and access road upgrades to maintain the ability to fight wildfire in urban interface zones next to Crown lands.
While funding for wildfire mitigation through the Union of BC Municipalities has shifted its focus as of late (see
Pique, Oct. 6), a new Wildfire Risk Reduction Program was announced by the province last month, committing $25 million per year for three years, Beresford said—but it's still unclear where that funding will land.
"It will focus on providing funding for wildfire risk-reduction projects on Crown land within municipalities. The twist on that is that it's not something that the municipality can apply for ... the province will determine priorities in each of the districts and then send those recommendations forward to a decision maker," she said.
"I'm hopeful. I gave the new fella a tour around our sites last week and they are very impressed with what we're doing ... he's not the decision maker, but I'm hoping he can put in a good word for us."
