Kedron man starts petition over Brisbane City Council’s fire pit rules

A Brisbane man has started a petition to get council to rethink their rules on fire pits that put most people at risk of a $266 fine for lighting one. VOTE IN OUR POLL.

A Kedron man has started a petition to bring back the fire pit

DARREN Mitchell loves a good fire pit.

So it came as a bit of a shock to find out he could be in a spot of trouble with Brisbane City Council for getting one going.

“I thought it was a bit crazy. We enjoy a backyard fire from time to time, and I’d hate to be in a position where we had to justify ourselves,” he said.

FIRE PIT CRACKDOWN: 'WE DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS ILLEGAL'

FIRE PIT COMPLAINT: 'PEOPLE CAN BE COMPLETE WALNUTS'

VIRUS SURVIVOR PLEADS WITH PEOPLE NOT TO LIGHT FIRE PITS

Mr Mitchell lodged a petition with council today in a bid to get them to reconsider the law.

“Residents draw to the attention of council that recent news articles have highlighted that the use of fire pits in backyards across metropolitan Brisbane is illegal for purely recreational purposes,” he wrote.

“Your petitioners therefore request that firepits are allowed for recreational purposes in backyards throughout metropolitan Brisbane in a manner that does not adversely impact the environment and neighbours.”

Darren's family around the fire pit.

Mr Mitchell from Kedron said he only became aware that he could be in strife after media reports that a BCC officer did a home visit to a family cooking marshmallows to extinguish their fire.

“I knew you couldn’t incinerate rubbish, but with fire pits, you can buy them everywhere so there’s an assumption there that it’s legal,” he said.

“We always do it responsibly and we have firewood in a part of the yard that smoke doesn’t go everywhere. Most of our neighbours have fire pits as well.”

Mr Mitchell said he wasn’t aware he was doing anything wrong, and many of his friends were unaware of the law too.

“If there’s a law there, you don’t want to break it. I just think it’s a little bit silly,” he said.

As part of council’s Health, Safety and Amenity Local Law 2009, a person must not light a fire in any area of the city, other than a rural area, unless exempt.

Council can also issue an on-the-spot fine of $266 for lighting or maintaining a fire in the open air or in an incinerator in any area of the city other than a rural area.

SIGN THE PETITION HERE

People are prohibited from lighting and maintaining fires in the open air or in an incinerator for any purpose other than:

■ Where the fire is used to cook food for human consumption in a barbecue or similar structure (but not a fire on the ground or in a brazier)

■ For approved theatrical performances or similar approved entertainment events

■ Where the subject land is included in the Rural area classification (under the Brisbane City Plan 2014) and neither the height, width or length of the material to be consumed exceeds two metres

■ Where a permit has been issued by the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services

■ Where the fire is required to be lit by notice under section 69 of the Fire and Emergency Services Act 1990