Basseterre, St. Kitts, April 25, 2017 (SKNIS): Burning materials while living in close proximity to others can be a nuisance. Persons, therefore, should not burn items in their yards without seeking permission from the Fire and Rescue Services Department, says Fire Sub Station Officer, Lesroy Caines, and Fire Officer, Louise Clarke.
The department officials made this clear on Wednesday’s April 25th, edition of “Working for You.”
It was explained that there are neighbours who often burn items on their property who may fail to realise that they are affecting others around them whether it be their laundry on the clothes line or persons who suffer from respiratory problems.
Fire Officer, Louise Clarke, advised that persons wishing to burn items must to go to the Fire and Rescue Services Department to seek permission and an officer will inspect the items to be burned in that area.
“If it is not fit, they will not authorise you, but if they see it fit they will authorize you. However, bear in mind if I authorize you to burn and Mr. Caines (hypothetical neighbour) has a problem, we will make you put it out,” she said.
Fire Sub Station Officer, Lesroy Caines said that personswho may have a problem with their neighbours’ burning are asked to call the Fire Department and it will extinguish it.
“That is what you need to do. If anyone is burning, even if they have permission, because some of them will say I have permission from the Fire and Rescue Services, and it is disturbing your neighbour, we would have to come and put it out,” he said.
Permission to burn is a collaborative effort between the Department of Environmental Health and the Fire and Rescue Services Department. There is an Act which provides guidelines to addressing the burning issue.
“There is a Nuisance Act, which speaks to polluting the atmosphere and that sort of thing when it comes to lighting fires,” said the fire substation officer.
It was noted, however, that persons do not usually receive permission to burn because of this Act.
