Estevan firefighters responded to a fire pit-related call on Sunday.
The call for service came in at about 7:30 p.m. Firefighters were asked to provide a bonfire investigation in the south-central part of Estevan.
Upon arrival, the crews found that the fire pit was legitimate and had a proper permit signed; however, this legitimate structure had migrated and ended up on the deck, in close proximity to numerous highly combustible items.
"The homeowner was asked to extinguish the fire for the evening and relocate (the fire pit) to a more tenable location," said Estevan Fire Chief Dale Feser.
"It has to be as the plan submitted, and people have to observe the … three meters or 10 feet of clearance from any combustible surfaces. With this being on the deck, it was way too close to the combustible hand railings and the home itself, so the homeowner complied and then he agreed to come into the fire station, where we're going to do a little more education as to a better place where he can put that in this yard."
Fire pits are supposed to be on the ground on non-combustible surfaces such as gravel, patio stones or blocks. The Estevan bylaw and the fire pit application outline that it has to be covered with a screen to prevent the migration of ambers. It also regulates what's approved for burning inside the city limits, which includes logs and bigger tree parts.
In the recent case, the homeowner was burning twigs and leaves, which is not allowed as per the bylaw, since it produces too much smoke; besides, small ambers can easily migrate to other surfaces and start them on fire.
