Over the past five weeks, North Bay firefighters responded to two outdoor toilets that were deliberately set on fire, 19 other fires started by homeless individuals, among many other calls.
North Bay Fire Chief Jason Whiteley told The Nugget on Wednesday morning that the overall call volume is trending slightly higher than in 2024.
Between June 18 and July 23, North Bay Fire and Emergency Services responded to two calls that were determined to be arson in which outdoor port-a-potties were deliberately lit on fire.
Whiteley said crews also responded to 19 calls where unhoused persons were burning contrary to the City of North Bay by-law.
“These fires were extinguished by our firefighters,” he said.
Whiteley added that five calls were determined to be illegal burning (without a valid permit) where the fires were extinguished by firefighters. Two of these calls resulted in charges.
“Seven calls that we investigated and were determined to be public complaints about people that had valid burning permits and were following the rules for outdoor burning and seven were calls that were investigated but no fire was located.”
The annual cost of an open burning fire permit for recreational use is $27, and burning is only allowed between 7:30 p.m. and 1 a.m., according to the City of North Bay website.
The permit is good from date of purchase to Dec. 31 of that year.
A list of rules and regulations are available at: https://northbay.ca/news-media-advisories/permit-required-for-recreational-open-air-burning/
Refusal to comply with these conditions or where an enforcement officer has a safety concern, the officer may immediately suspend or revoke the permit.
Where North Bay Fire and Emergency Services responds to or inspects an open-air fire that is not in compliance, a set fine may be imposed, as well as a fee of $485.00/hr for each fire truck that responds.