INSIDE

Now, that’s what we call a burn pile

By Meg Olson

Point Roberts fire chief Bill Skinner is exploring the possibility of a central site for commercial burns to allow property owners and contractors to burn land-clearing debris within a stricter regulatory framework.

“I think it would be an improvement to have a burn once or twice a year in a secure location,” Skinner said at the October 11 fire district commissioners meeting, adding that the three contractors to whom the department most often issues commercial burn permits supported the idea.

The problem is that it contravenes state rules about burning hauled materials, but Skinner said he plans to pursue an exemption. “I think there are arguments that can be put forth that it would be both ecologically and fire safety-wise a better solution,” he said.

Under current rules land clearing debris can be burned in piles up to 25-feet tall as long as the pile is 50 feet from any structures or other trees. As the district adopts new burn policies next month to conform with the federal Clean Air Act piles up to 50 feet will be allowed but they will need to be five times their height from structures. “If we’re going to comply we’ll have to do it on a site that accommodates that,” Skinner said, since most building sites were too small. Skinner added that the current owner of the former gravel pit had indicated he might be interested in providing a site where contractors could bring burnable materials for a fee.

The new burn policies will also bring consistency, Skinner said, requiring larger burns have a backhoe, 300 gallons of available water at least and a fan on site. “To have a 25-foot pile and a garden hose is not acceptable,” Skinner said.

The new burn policy will also adopt a state fee schedule for cost recovery if the fire department has to put out a burn that was started in violation of the regulations. “It would depend what equipment was needed,” Skinner said, with an engine costing $128 per hour.

Residential burn permits would also go up if Skinner’s recommendations are adopted. Currently the district doesn’t receive any of the funds collected by Nielsen’s Building Center, which issues the permits. Skinner is suggesting a $1 increase, bringing a 72-hour permit to $3, of which one would go to the department.