Red Deer residents will still be allowed to sit by a fire pit in the summers, after council opted not to change the city’s Fire Permit Bylaw.

Council was satisfied that the bylaw could effectively address scenarios where a backyard fire could become a nuisance.

“There are specific criteria within the bylaw in terms of height and size the flame can burn, the materials that can be burned, the placement of a portable receptacle -- it needs to be on a concrete or non-combustible (surface),” said Coun. Vesna Higham.

Higham said that criteria helps bylaw enforcement, but a legal fire can be deemed a nuisance based on the opinion of the person making the complaint.

Last June, a resident had asked the city to ban outdoor wood fire pits for air quality, nuisance and health reasons. Council then asked administration to review the bylaw.

The report found that outdoor fire pits were not a “significant contributor to poor air quality in the city.”

A city-wide fire ban could be declared by the Fire Chief depending on air quality index levels, or if conditions are dry. Emergency services and environmental services will work to determine just when a ban would be called.

“We felt the bylaw was well-worded and would manage any situations that we would have,” said Bart Rowland, deputy fire chief. “We just needed to beef it up a little bit with some numbers on when to apply the fire (ban) based on air quality index.”