LangfordB次元官网网址檚 new burning regulations, implemented last month, have proven to be a breath of fresh air, quite literally.

Since burning season opened Nov. 1, the fire department has not received a single air quality complaint, a drastic improvement from previous years.

B次元官网网址淓very season for the last 12 years on council, I would get dozens of air quality complaints,B次元官网网址� said Langford councillor and protective services committee chair Lillian Szpak.

To be specific, there were 208 official complaints to the fire department in the burning seasons from late 2012 to early 2014, and that doesnB次元官网网址檛 include all the emails and phone calls Szpak and other city councillors received personally.

B次元官网网址淎nd not just the people with health problems. I was hearing from people who had just relocated to Langford, and when they realized we allowed burning here, they were horrified,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淭hey would be coming back from downtown and see this haze of smoke over Langford.B次元官网网址�

Mayor and council listened to what the majority of residents were asking for, Szpak added, and started taking steps to reform burning. B次元官网网址淟angfordB次元官网网址檚 not the rural, outlying community anymore. WeB次元官网网址檙e much more urbanized, and weB次元官网网址檝e made our focus family and community.B次元官网网址�

The process to move from open burning to a more city-friendly process for dealing with yard waste began several years ago, with gradual steps to shorten the burning season, reduce the number of days to burn within the season and the imposition of more stringent restrictions.

B次元官网网址淵ou want to be respectful when youB次元官网网址檙e bringing about a change,B次元官网网址� Szpak said.

B次元官网网址淚t was about a year ago that council decided it was time to take the next step,B次元官网网址� said Langford Fire Chief Bob Beckett of the most recent regulation changes. B次元官网网址淎nd the level of co-operation has been great. We just have not had folks trying to skirt the new regulations. I think the community recognizes what weB次元官网网址檙e trying to achieve: clean air.B次元官网网址�

As an alternative to burning, the City of Langford and the fire department are encouraging residents to take advantage of the Three Cs: chipping, composting and commercial disposal. The city did look into a municipal drop-off centre several years ago, but the overall costs were too high, Szpak said.

B次元官网网址淚t would have resulted in a two-per-cent tax increase per household, and thatB次元官网网址檚 a lot of money. WeB次元官网网址檙e very mindful of (not) piling costs on our taxpayers.B次元官网网址�

She noted, too, that households without much use for a yard waste drop-off, such as condos and apartments, would be subsidizing the centres. B次元官网网址淚t would just be unfair. (The way it is now), itB次元官网网址檚 leaving it up to the residents to use their resources as they see fit.B次元官网网址�

The burning regulations can be found at , or for more information, call Langford Fire Rescue at 250-478-7770.

acowan@goldstreamgazette.com