Spaniard’s Bay council not hot on moving bonfire

By Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Olivia Bradbury

Spaniard’s Bay council is being asked to consider a new site for the town’s annual bonfire night blaze, but the proposed location has raised concerns.

The request for the change came from the town’s volunteer fire department.

Town clerk Vanessa Higgins said the department had received a request to hold the bonfire on Jones Road.

“The fire chief is requesting input as it could affect residents in the area,” said Higgins. “If we were to make that change, residents in the area definitely would have to be notified to see if there’s any issues or anything like that.”

Higgins suggested someone on council have a look at the location in the following weeks, noting Bonfire Night is not until November.

“It is close to a lot of houses and it’s in an area where there was a big scare last summer,” said Higgins.

Jones Road is not far from Maul Tree Hill, where a fire broke out last summer and led to residents being evacuated.

“I think a lot of residents are going to feel uneasy with having the bonfire in that location, personally,” said the clerk.

Councillor Darlene Stamp asked whether the fire department should make the decision rather than council. “Fire departments are the ones in fire safety, they’re the ones who know what the risk is,” said Stamp.

Higgins said the topic of changing the bonfire location came to council last year, but had not been looked at until now.

“The chief is not comfortable making the decision himself,” she said.

Higgins shared her personal opinion that the Jones Road location is too close to houses. Councillor Debbie Newman, who lives on Jones Road, said it would be too close to her home. She noted there are a lot of trees in the area.

Mayor Tammy Oliver said that after someone from council takes a look at the proposed location and reports back, council can take a vote on it.