I'm very concerned about the possibility of a huge burn in Union Bay of approximately 30 acres of slash which has recently been piled up for burning just down the street from my residence at Highway 19A and Arygle Road.

This very large cleared area belongs to the Kensington Development and is planned to be the first area developed with 241 homes called the Argyle Road Community of the larger re-branded Kensington Island Properties called "The Union Bay Community".

I have heard from a representative from the Planning Department of the Regional District that the Kensington Developer requires no burning permit from either the Ministry of the Environment or from the Ministry of Forests, Lands, and Natural Resource Operations. To burn these approximately 26 stacks of wooded debris (each the height of a three-storey building), Kensington is only required to follow the general burning guidelines found at http://www.bclaws.ca/EPLibraries/bclaws_new/document/ID/freeside/34_145_93.

My questions are as follows:
(1) How can this burn take place in an environmentally sound manner (as per the burning guidelines) if people are living so close to it?
(2) Other communities don't allow this type of burning in residential areas. Why does ours?

I seriously oppose this burn and ask that Mr. Brian McMahon, the Kensington Developer, make good on his words at the July 20th UBID monthly Board Meeting that he is looking to either haul away the slash or have it chipped. Or, I would guess that a group of loggers in the area would be willing to organise a fundraiser for our depleted UBID coffers to have people remove the firewood with a donation per carload after signing a liability waiver. There have been very successful Y.A.N.A fundraisers in the Campbell River which have set up this type of firewood removal.

I don't believe that such a large area so near an inhabited area has ever been burned in the Comox Valley. Such a burn would create a huge amount of smoke that would cause everyone discomfort, particularly those who are sensitive to smoke. The wind patterns of this ocean side area are very unpredictable -- I have no doubt that the smoke would reach parts of Courtenay and Comox causing health problems, especially for children and those with health problems.

And the amount of ash falling on people's homes, cars, and vegetable gardens and yards would cause damage and create a huge mess. I remember that in the past a community in North Vancouver actually sued about the fall ash created by a large burning.

Then there are other very serious considerations such as the potential of car accidents when people driving down 19A find themselves enveloped in a big cloud of smoke with no visibility.

My own very personal concern about this burn is this: my wife has a very serious breathing condition. Even with the windows closed, this type of burn on such a large scale would seriously jeopardize her health.

During the forest fires last year, my wife had to be hospitalized for severe breathing problems. Her doctor has stated that she now must avoid smoke at all costs since it could be fatal for her.

The developer must be held accountable for the potential of severe health problems which could occur if this burning is allowed to take place. He could even be looking at potential loss of life. Is the developer, the Vancouver Health Authority and the Regional District willing to assume this risk?

I would suggest that you actually drive down to the site to get a better idea of the potential severity of smoke pollution and the health risk which is at stake of such a slash burning.

I remember the huge controversy over a couple of fire rings at Goose Spit. The burning at Argyle Street would be far, far worse.

I hope that the Regional Directors and VIHA will take note of this impending disaster and disallow it before it happens. The smoke caused by burning a large amount of wood debris could be fatal for my wife according to my wife’s physician. Who will step up to the plate and stop this burning?