Ontario Fire Marshal hopes to ban barn parties

Because of the strong sense of rural culture and tradition in the United Counties of Prescott-Russell (UCPR), regional mayors don't appear to agree with the Ontario Fire Marshal's plan to crack down on allowing large gatherings to be held in barns and other farm structures.

At the regular meeting of council held on Tuesday, November 22, regional mayors reviewed a resolution from the Municipality of Central Huron urging other municipalities to voice their displeasure with the fire marshal's proposal.

Central Huron's resolution stated that functions held in farm buildings are "an important part of rural culture" and said private buildings located on private property "should be the responsibility of the owners and as such, the owners are responsible for their actions and properties."

Central Huron said it feels the province is "infringing on property rights" and noted the municipality "strongly objects" to the Ontario Fire Marshal's proposal.

East Hawkesbury Mayor Robert Kirby said council should find out more about the fire marshal's proposal before it supports the resolution, but other mayors said they agreed with Central Huron's take on the matter.

"I don't feel it should be up to us to enforce something like this," said Clarence-Rockland Mayor Marcel Guibord. "We do have a strong rural culture here and I believe something like this does infringe on property rights."

Mayors asked staff to provide more information on the matter before supporting the resolution, but The Review has learned that the Ontario Fire Marshal's Office has sent a communiqué to all provincial municipalities telling them it has become aware barns - as well as other structures not designed to hold large gatherings - are being used for parties.

It will be up to the municipalities' fire services to inspect buildings if they become aware of potential Ontario Fire Code violations and take steps to stop functions if necessary.

Jeffrey Dick, acting operations manager for the southwest region of the Ontario Fire Marshal's Office, said he will take a look at the resolution being circulated by Central Huron, but "if we become aware of a potential public safety issue we're going let the authority having jurisdiction know about it."

Dick said barns are designed to be used as barns, but the Fire Marshal's Office became aware in August that barns are being used as public assembly buildings to hold parties like wedding receptions and family reunions.

"That's not what a barn is intended for," he explained, noting that using a barn as an assembly occupancy structure is not the correct use of the building.

Assembly buildings, including structures that look like barns, that are designed to be used for parties, meetings, dances and other functions must have the proper fire and life safety systems in place, such as fire alarms, sprinklers, fire separations, proper exiting requirements and emergency lighting.

"Barns don't have that," he said, noting they should never be used as assembly buildings.

Once the fire service becomes aware of potential violations of the Ontario Fire Code, it must inspect those buildings, he stated. The Ontario Fire Code is the regulation under the Fire Protection and Prevention Act that governs fire safety standards for equipment, systems, buildings, structures, and premises in Ontario. The Fire Code is in place to protect the occupants of a building.

If a building that's not designed for use as an assembly building, such as a barn, is being used to hold a get-together, the fire service has a number of options, including putting orders on the building or using other provisions of the Fire Protection and Prevention Act, he explains.

Dick noted local municipalities have jurisdiction to enforce the provisions of the Ontario Fire Code and the act.

This isn't a new regulation, he stated. In the past, parties may have been held in barns and drive sheds, but "now that we're aware of it that's an incorrect use of the building."

Dick said he isn't aware of any deaths or injuries that have occurred in farm building gatherings.

The Fire Marshal's Office is a branch of the Ontario Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Service's community safety division. The office is the principal adviser to government on fire prevention policy and fire safety matters.