The city of Port Coquitlam is moving to allow the backyard use of natural gas or propane fire pits, portable heaters and decorative fire tables.
That’s following a request by council for staff to prepare the applicable bylaw amendments that would make the patio and backyard devices legal in the city.
The city banned every outdoor gas appliance except barbecues back in 2015 as a way to cut down on smoke and reduce the risk of fire. But in the five years since, fire statistics do not report a single incidence of fire damage from gas heaters or fire pits, according to a release from the city.
“This will help our residents make their outdoor spaces more comfortable while they continue to spend more time at home due to the pandemic,” Mayor Brad West said in the written statement.
“We’re happy to make this common sense change, which not only reflects the requests we’ve been getting from the community as they are popular and widely used, but also our fire safety research.”
The new rules will require anyone planning to light one of the devices to ensure it only burns either natural gas or propane and that it has a three metre (10 feet) clearance from anything that could catch fire. In addition, users should be careful to follow the manufacturer’s instructions and only use the appliances on private property.
The bylaw amendments will be heard and considered at a June 9 council meeting. If approved, Port Coquitlam would join several other municipalities across the Metro Vancouver region that already approve the use of such devices.
