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Summer Village of White Sands, Fire Control Bylaw 218-25
1
SUMMER VILLAGE OF WHITE SANDS
FIRE CONTROL BYLAW NO. 218-25
A BYLAW OF THE SUMMER VILLAGE OF WHITE SANDS IN THE PROVINCE OF ALBERTA, TO PROVIDE
FOR CONTROL OF FIRES AND THE RECOVERY OF FIRE PROTECTION SERVICE COSTS.
WHEREAS the Municipal Government Act, R.S.A. 2000 C.M. 26 as amended, provides that Council
may pass a bylaw for the safety, health and welfare of people;
AND WHEREAS the Council of the Summer Village of White Sands wishes to regulate and control the
use and setting of Fires within the Summer Village;
AND WHEREAS the Council of the Summer Village of White Sands wishes to provide for the recovery
of Fire protection service costs;
NOW THEREFORE, the Council of the Summer Village of White Sands, duly assembled, enacts as
follows:
SECTION 1
NAME OF BYLAW
1.1
This bylaw may be cited as the "Fire Control Bylaw".
SECTION 2
DEFINITIONS
2.1
In this Bylaw:
a. "Council" means the Council of the Summer Village of White Sands.
b. "Chief Administrative Officer" shall have the same meaning as in the Municipal
Government Act, R.S.A. 2000, C.M. 26, as amended or repealed and replaced
from time to time.
c. "Designated Officer" means a Designated Officer of the Summer Village of White
Sands whose authority includes inspections and enforcement of Summer Village
of White Sands bylaws.
d. "Fire" means any combustible material in a state of combustion.
e. "Fireworks" are any composition or device for the purpose of producing a visible
or an audible effect for entertainment purposes by combustion, deflagration, or
detonation. This includes "Firecrackers" and includes both High and Low hazard
varieties.
f. "Fire Department" means the Stettler Regional Fire Department and/or any other
Fire or emergency service organization providing assistance to the Summer
Village in the suppression of a Fire, whether pursuant to the terms of an aid
agreement or on an ad hoc basis.
g. "Fire Department Property" means all Property owned or controlled by, and
designated for use by, the Fire Department, regardless of the source of the
Property.
h. "Fire Hazard" means any condition, circumstance or event wherein the possibility
of Fire is increased.
i. "Fire Protection Services" means all aspects of Fire safety including but not
limited to Fire prevention, Firefighting or suppression, pre-Fire planning, Fire
investigation, public education and information, training or other staff
development and advising.
Summer Village of White Sands, Fire Control Bylaw 218-25
2
j. "Fire Protection Charge" means any or all costs incurred by the Summer Village
as a result of the provision of Fire Protection Services within the Summer Village
under Sections 5 or 6 of this bylaw.
k. "Illegal Fire" means any Fire which is in contravention of this bylaw.
l. "Incident" means a Fire or a situation where an explosion is imminent or any
other situation where there is a danger or possible danger to life or Property and
to which the Fire Department has responded.
m. "Member" means any person who is a duly appointed Member of the Fire
Department, including a part-time Member or volunteer Officer.
n. "Municipal Land" means any land owned or controlled by the Summer Village,
including but not limited to municipal reserve, environmental reserve, public
beaches, parks, road rights-of-way, and recreational areas.
o. "Officer" means any person who is duly appointed or acting in the capacity of
Regional Manager, Fire Chief or Deputy Fire Chief of a Fire Department.
p. "Peace Officer" means a Bylaw Enforcement Officer appointed by the Summer
Village to enforce the Summer Village Bylaws and includes a member of the Royal
Canadian Mounted Police, a Community Peace Officer and a Special Constable.
q. "Property" means any real or personal Property which, without limiting the
generality of the foregoing, includes land and structures.
r. "Recreational Fire" means a Fire set in a controlled setting for the exclusive
purpose of providing light, warmth, or the cooking of small food items.
s. "Running Fire" means a Fire which has escaped its confinement, or which is
burning not being under proper or any control of any person.
t. "Summer Village" means the Municipal Corporation of the Village of White Sands
in the Province of Alberta and, where the context requires, means all land
situated within the corporate boundaries of the Summer Village.
u. "Violation Ticket" means a ticket issued pursuant to Part II of the Provincial
Offences Procedure Act, R.S.A. 2000, c. P-34, as amended, or repealed and
replaced from time to time, and any regulations thereunder.
v. "Alberta Fire Code" means the current edition of the National Fire Code - Alberta
Edition as amended or repealed and replaced from time to time..
w. "Authority having jurisdiction" in compliance with the Alberta Fire Code means
an "Officer" of a 'Fire Department" as defined in this Bylaw.
x. "High Hazard" means High hazard fireworks as defined in the Alberta Fire Code.
y. "Low Hazard" means all fireworks not classified as High hazard under the Alberta
Fire Code.
SECTION 3
POWERS OF MEMBERS OF A FIRE DEPARTMENT
3.1
Each Member and Officer shall have the authority and power to:
a. Perform work relating to the extinguishing or controlling the Fire or the
operations to preserve life and Property and enter onto any Property for the
purpose of extinguishing or controlling the Fire.
Summer Village of White Sands, Fire Control Bylaw 218-25
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b.
Prevent interference with the efforts of persons engaged in the extinguishing
of Fires or preventing the spread thereof by regulating the conduct of the
public at or in the vicinity of any Fire.
SECTION 4
POWERS OF OFFICERS OF A FIRE DEPARTMENT
4.1
Each Officer shall have the authority and power to:
a. Commandeer and authorize payment for the possession or use of any equipment
for the purposes of fighting the Fire.
b. Perform work relating to the extinguishing or controlling the Fire or the
operations to preserve life and Property and enter onto any Property for the
purpose of extinguishing or controlling the Fire.
c.
Prevent interference with the efforts of persons engaged in the extinguishing of
Fires or preventing the spread thereof by regulating the conduct of the public at
or in the vicinity of any Fire.
SECTION 5
FIRE PROTECTION CHARGES
5.1
Fire Protection Charges incurred by the Summer Village, directly or indirectly, as a
result of providing Fire Protection Services within the Summer Village's boundaries
may be recovered by the Summer Village from:
a.
Any person causing or contributing to the Fire; or
b.
The owner or occupant of any Property receiving services from the Fire
Protection Services, if the person responsible for causing the fire, or the cause of
the fire, is unknown;
And the above are jointly and severally liable for the Fire Protection Charge.
5.2
The schedule of fees for Fire Protection Charges shall be as set out in Schedule "A"
attached hereto and forming part of this bylaw.
5.3
Fire Protection Charges shall be paid within sixty (60) days of being levied.
5.4
Collection of unpaid Fire Protection Charges may be undertaken by civil action in the
court of competent jurisdiction, and any civil action does not invalidate any lien which
the Summer Village is entitled to on the Property in respect of which the
indebtedness is incurred.
5.5
The owner of a parcel to which Fire Protection Services are provided is liable for Fire
Protection Charges incurred, and the Summer Village may add unpaid Fire Protection
Charges to the tax roll of the parcel of land for which the services were provided.
SECTION 6
CONTROL OF FIRE HAZARDS
6.1
If the Council finds within its municipal boundaries on privately owned land or
occupied public land conditions that in its opinion constitute a Fire Hazard, it may
order the owner or the person in control of the land on which the Fire Hazard exists
to reduce or remove the Fire Hazard within a fixed time and in a manner prescribed
by the Summer Village.
6.2
If the Council finds that the order it made pursuant to Section 6.1 has not been
carried out, the Chief Administrative Officer or Designated Officer may enter onto
the land with any equipment and any person Council considers necessary and may
perform the work required to eliminate or reduce the Fire Hazard.
Summer Village of White Sands, Fire Control Bylaw 218-25
4
6.3
The owner or occupant of the land on which work was performed pursuant to Section
6.2 shall, upon demand, pay to the Summer Village a Fire Protection Charge, and in
default of payment of the Fire Protection Charge, the Summer Village may add the
Fire Protection Charge to the tax roll of the said land, which forms a special lien
against the land in favor of the Summer Village, from the date it was added to the tax
roll.
SECTION 7
PERMITTED AND PROHIBITED FIRES
Any person is guilty of an offence if he or she:
7.1
sets or permits to set, any Fire within the boundaries of the Summer Village except
as otherwise provided for under this bylaw. (see Section 7.5)
7.2
burns or permits to be burned, any refuse, waste, junk, garbage, structures, debris or
other noxious substance within the boundaries of the Summer Village.
7.3
has in his/her possession, sells, offers for sale, gives away or otherwise distributes,
discharges, fireworks or sets off Firecrackers, or any other pyrotechnic device on any
property within the boundaries of the Summer Village of White Sands, unless as
permitted in Section 7.4 .
7.4
discharges, fires or sets off Fireworks within the boundaries of the Summer Village of
White Sands unless he/she holds a Canadian Fireworks Operator Certificate and a
permit for that purpose issued by the Authority having jurisdiction.
a. The Authority having jurisdiction may when issuing a permit, include any specific
conditions that, in the opinion of the Authority having jurisdiction, are
appropriate given the nature of the activity to which the permit applies and the
prevailing environmental conditions.
b. It is a condition of all Fireworks Permits issued by the Authority having jurisdiction
that, the applicant, in submitting the application, expressly acknowledges that he
or she has read the entire document and its terms and conditions, and expressly
agrees to indemnify and save the Summer Village of White Sands harmless from
any loss or damage including personal injury, death and property damage, that
may arise from the storage, handling and detonation of fireworks, and such losses
shall include cost incurred by the Summer Village of White Sands including
solicitor-own client costs, on a full indemnity basis.
c.
It is a condition of all Fireworks Permits issued by the Authority having jurisdiction
that the Permit may be cancelled at any time, by the posting of a Notice of
Cancellation on all community bulletin boards, and by any other means the
Authority having jurisdiction deems appropriate, when in the opinion of the
Authority having jurisdiction the prevailing environmental conditions warrant
and/or weather conditions create an undue fire hazard.
d. It is a condition of all Fireworks Permits issued by the Authority having jurisdiction
that the Permit is automatically cancelled for safety reasons during periods of
time when the fire hazard is considered "High", as posted on the fire hazard sign
entering the Summer Village from the east, or when a Fire Ban is in force as per
Section 8; enacted in accordance with the Summer Village of White Sands Fire
Ban Policy.
7.5
Subject to Section 8, a person may, on Property owned or controlled by that person,
set a Recreational Fire, provided that Recreational Fire is contained within a Fire pit
that meets all of the following requirements:
Summer Village of White Sands, Fire Control Bylaw 218-25
5
a. a minimum of 3 meters of clearance, measured from the nearest edge of the fire
pit to the closest edge of a building, property line or other combustible material;
b. a height not exceeding 0.6 meters measured from the surrounding grade to the
top of the opening for solid fuel;.
c.
a diameter not exceeding 1 meter;
d.
equipped with a mesh screen with openings no larger than 12.5 millimeters;
e. enclosed on all sides with non combustible materials, including but not limited to
bricks, concrete blocks, or heavy gauge metal,; and
f.
not located over any underground utilities or under any above ground overhead
wires.
7.6
Subject to Section 8, Recreational Fires on Municipal Land are prohibited except
where:
a) the fire is lit within a Summer Village-owned outdoor fireplace or fire pit
located in a designated public area approved by the Summer Village; and
b) the fire is supervised at all times by a responsible person.
7.6.1 Recreational Fires permitted under this section:
a) shall be used only for their intended recreational purpose;
b) shall be fully extinguished immediately upon request of the Chief
Administrative Officer, Designated Officer, Peace Officer, or Fire Department
Officer; and
c) shall be conducted in a manner that does not create a Fire Hazard or nuisance
condition.
7.6.2 No person shall construct, modify, or install a fire pit or fireplace on Municipal
Land without the prior written approval of the Summer Village.
7.7
When a Fire is set in contravention of Section 7.1, 7.2,7.3 or 7.6 or during a Fire ban
pursuant to Section 8.1, the owner or occupier of the land, or the person having
control of the land upon which the Fire is lit shall:
(1)
extinguish the Fire immediately, or
(2)
if unable to extinguish the Fire immediately, report the Fire to the Fire
Department as soon as possible.
SECTION 8
FIRE BANS
8.1
The Chief Administrative Officer may, from time to time, prohibit all Fires within the
Summer Village, including Recreational Fires when, in the discretion of the Chief
Administrative Officer, the prevailing environmental conditions give rise to an
increased risk of a Fire becoming a Running Fire.
8.2
A Fire ban imposed by the Chief Administrative Officer under Section 8.1 shall be in
force either until the date established by the Chief Administrative Officer in the
notice provided to the public pursuant to Section 8.3, or until such time as the Chief
Administrative Officer gives notice to the public that the ban has been lifted.
8.3
The Chief Administrative Officer shall give notice of the Fire ban in effect by causing
signs to be posted at the entrance road to the Summer Village.
8.4
When a Fire ban is in place, no person shall ignite a Recreational Fire, or cause or
allow a Recreational Fire to be ignited on his Property or Property under his control.
SECTION 9
GENERAL OFFENCES
Summer Village of White Sands, Fire Control Bylaw 218-25
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9.1
Any person is guilty of an offence if he or she:
a. contravenes any provision(s) of this bylaw.
b. deposits, discards or leaves any burning matter or substance where it might ignite
other material and cause a Fire.
c.
provides false, incomplete or misleading information to the Summer Village or
the Fire Department on or with respect to a Fire.
d. impedes, obstructs, or hinders a Member or Officer of a Fire Department, or
other person assisting or acting under the direction of the Officer or Member in
charge at any Incident.
e. damages or destroys Fire Department Property.
f.
falsely represent themselves as a Member or wear or display any Fire Department
badge, cap, button, insignia or other paraphernalia for the purpose of such false
representation.
g. at an Incident drives a vehicle over any Fire Department Property without the
permission of the Officer or Member in charge.
h. obstructs or otherwise interferes with access roads or streets or other
approaches to any Fire hydrant, cistern or body of water designated for Fire-
fighting purposes or any connections provided to a Fire main, pipe, stand pipe,
sprinkler system, cistern or other body of water designated for Fire-fighting
purposes.
i.
obstructs a Member from carrying out any function or activity related in any way
to the provision of Fire Protection Services.
j.
either directly, or indirectly, personally or through an agent, servant or employee
kindles a Fire prohibited under this bylaw, or lets it become a Running Fire, or
allows a Running Fire to pass from his or her own Property to the Property of
another.
k. lights a Recreational Fire without taking sufficient measures to keep the
Recreational Fire under control at all times.
l.
lights a Recreational Fire when he/she knows or ought reasonably to know that
the environmental conditions are conductive to create a Running Fire,
notwithstanding that no Fire ban is in place pursuant to Section 8.1.
m. conducts an activity that involves the use of flame or heated materials that might
reasonably be expected to cause a Fire unless that person exercises reasonable
care to prevent the Fire from occurring.
n. sets a Recreational Fire, where smoke from that Recreational Fire will impede
visibility of vehicular traffic and pedestrian traffic on any highway as defined in
the Traffic Safety Act, R.S.A. 2000, ChapterT-6, as amended, or repealed and
replaced from time to time.
o. A person is guilty of an offence if they light any fire on Municipal lands, except as
expressly permitted under Section 7.6 of this bylaw.
Conditions for all fires permitted under subsection (o)
i.
The person who lights the fire is responsible for supervising the fire at all
times;
Summer Village of White Sands, Fire Control Bylaw 218-25
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ii.
The person must complete full clean-up and restoration of the affected
area to the satisfaction of the Summer Village within a reasonable time
following extinguishment; and
iii.
If the Summer Village determines it must complete or assist with clean-up
or restoration, the responsible person shall reimburse all associated costs
in addition to any penalties under Schedule "B".
Property Owner Liability (related to subsection (o)):
If the individual who lights the fire is not the property owner, the property
owner(s) to whom that individual is an occupant or guest shall be jointly and
severally responsible for all clean-up and restoration costs incurred by the
Summer Village.
Emergency Fire Situations (related to subsection (o)):
For the purposes of ensuring public safety and due to limited firefighting
resources within the Summer Village, all non-consented fires on lands owned or
controlled by the Summer Village are deemed emergency situations requiring
immediate extinguishment and remedial action. Any firefighting, suppression,
monitoring, hazard mitigation, or clean-up and restoration costs incurred by the
Summer Village as a result of such emergency situations may be recovered as
Fire Protection Charges and may be applied to the tax roll in accordance with
Section 5.5 of this Bylaw and the Municipal Government Act.
SECTION 10
PENALTIES
10.1
Any person who:
a. Violates any provision of this bylaw;
b. Suffers or permits any act or thing to be done in contravention of or in violation
of any provision of this bylaw;
c.
Neglects to do or refrains from doing anything required to be done by the
provisions of this bylaw, or
d. Does any act or thing or omits any act or thing, thus violating any provision of this
bylaw;
is guilty of an offense under this bylaw, and upon a conviction, is liable to a fine as
set out at Schedule "B" of this bylaw.
10.2
Any person who commits a second or subsequent offence under this Bylaw within
twelve (12) months of committing a first offence under this Bylaw, is liable to an
increased penalty as set out in Schedule "B" here in and in default of payment of any
penalty, to imprisonment for up to six (6) months.
10.3
The amount of a monetary Penalty for an Offence as set out in Schedule "B" may be
amended by resolution of Council from time to time.
SECTION 11
VIOLATION TICKETS
11.1
The Chief Administrative Officer, Designated Officer or a Peace Officer is hereby
authorized and empowered to issue a Violation Ticket pursuant to Part II of the
Provincial Offences Procedure Act, R.S.A. 2000, c. P-34, as amended, or repealed and
replaced from time to time, to any person the Chief Administrative Officer,
Designated Officer, or Peace Officer has reasonable grounds to believe has
contravened any provision of this bylaw.
SECTION 12
LIABILITY
Summer Village of White Sands, Fire Control Bylaw 218-25
8
12.1
The Chief Administrative Officer, Designated Officer, Peace Officers, and the Officers
and Members of any Fire Department are not liable for loss or damage caused by
anything said or done or omitted to be done in the performance or intended
performance of their functions, duties or powers unless the circumstances constitute
dishonesty, gross negligence or willful misconduct.
SECTION 13
GENERAL
13.1
This bylaw shall come into force on the date of third and final passing. Upon the date
of final passing, Bylaw 202-24 is hereby repealed.
13.2
Should a section or part of this bylaw be found to be improperly enacted or ultra
vires, for any reasons, then such section or part shall be regarded as being severable
from the bylaw and the bylaw remaining after such severance shall be effective and
enforceable.
READ A FIRST TIME this 19 day of December, 2025.
READ A SECOND TIME this 19 day of December, 2025.
READ A THIRD TIME AND FINALLY PASSED this 19 day of January, 2026.
____________________________
Mayor
____________________________
Chief Administrative Officer
Original Signed
Original Signed
Summer Village of White Sands, Fire Control Bylaw 218-25
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SCHEDULE "A"
FIRE PROTECTION CHARGES
1. Incurred Under Section 5:
The full costs incurred by the Summer Village directly in providing Fire Protection Services, or
incurred indirectly by the Summer Village as a result of the provision of Fire Protection Services
within the Summer Village by a Fire Department, or a portion thereof as determined by Council,
in its sole discretion.
2. Incurred Under Section 6:
The full costs incurred by the Summer Village in issuing and enforcing an order issued under
Section 6, including any legal costs incurred, or a portion thereof as determined by Council in its
sole discretion.
Summer Village of White Sands, Fire Control Bylaw 218-25
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SCHEDULE "B"
PENALTIES
SECTION
OFFENCE
1st OFFENCE
2ND OFFENCE
3RD &
SUBSEQUENT
OFFENCCES
7.1
Setting Illegal Fire
$200.00
$400.00
$800.00
7.2
Burning refuse, waste, junk,
garbage, structures or debris
$250.00
$500.00
$1000.00
7.3
Using Firecrackers or permitting use
of Firecrackers
$500.00
$1000.00
$2000.00
7.4
Discharging fireworks without a
permit or with a permit that has
been cancelled
$500.00
$1000.00
$2000.00
7.4
Permitting the discharge of
fireworks without a permit or in a
manner contrary to the permit or
its conditions
$500.00
$1000.00
$2000.00
8.4
Burning Recreational Fire when Fire
ban in place
$500.00
$1000.00
$2000.00
9.1(a)
Contravening provision of bylaw
(where no other specific fine
imposed)
$200.00
$400.00
$800.00
9.1(b)
Depositing, discarding, leaving or
burning matter or substance
$100.00
$200.00
$400.00
9.1(c), (d)
Providing false, incomplete,
misleading information; Impeding,
obstructing, hindering Member or
Officer
$200.00
$400.00
$800.00
9.1(e)
Damage, destroy Fire Department
Property
$400.00
$800.00
$1600.00
9.1(f)
Falsely represent self as Member of
Fire Department
$300.00
$600.00
$1200.00
9.1(g)
Drive over Fire Department
Property
$200.00
$400.00
$800.00
9.1(h)
Obstruct access
$200.00
$400.00
$800.00
9.1(i)
Obstruct Member
$200.00
$400.00
$800.00
9.1(j)
Allowing Fire to become Running
Fire
$300.00
$600.00
$1200.00
9.1(k)
Failing to keep Recreational Fire
under control
$200.00
$400.00
$800.00
9.1(l)
Lighting Recreational Fire when
condition conductive to creating
Running Fire
$200.00
$400.00
$800.00
9.1(m)
Failing to use reasonable care in use
of flame or heated materials
$150.00
$300.00
$600.00
9.1(n)
Impeding vehicular and pedestrian
traffic by smoke
$100.00
$200.00
$400.00
9.1(o)
Lighting Fire on Summer Village
land
$500.00
$1000.00
$1500.00