Orangeville residents who voiced opinions on a draft Outdoor Fire Bylaw Monday night were pretty much equally divided in support or opposition to its features.

Fire Chief Andy Macintosh, asked by council last fall to come back with a new bylaw that was more definitive than the existing one, said he now had one, but it wouldn't please everyone and unless burning was banned altogether some people won't be happy.

The chief told of one resident who would drive around town locating all outdoor fires and then call in and complain about them.

The proposed new bylaw prescribes times during which open-air fires may be set, precautions to be observed by those setting fires, fees for fire permits and penalties for noncompliance. An annual residential fire permit would continue to cost $10.

As submitted to council, the bylaw continued to exempt a "small confined fire used to cook food on a grill or a barbecue," while banning altogether any open-air fires during a Southern Ontario "smog alert" issued by the Ministry of the Environment; when it is raining or foggy, or other than between 7 p.m. and midnight. Any materials to be burned must also meet the requirements of Ontario's Environmental Protection Act.

Some opponents of the bylaw didn't want fire pits to require permits, saying that would take away from their relaxation and family time.

But resident Kim Page was satisfied with the $10 annual fee and was even willing to pay more to be able to enjoy roasting marshmallows with her husband and children.

She said not enough families are spending time together and that hers has been looking forward to spring so they can have outdoor fires.

In a later interview, Town Clerk Cheryl Johns clarified that there is no intention to restrict fire pits in the proposed bylaw, which had few changes from the current bylaw, in effect since 1998.

The only major differences were the time constraint and the ban during a smog alert.

When Deputy Mayor Jim MacGregor suggested the time restrictions for a fire would affect families with their children grandchildren who must go to bed around 7 or 8 p.m., Chief Macintosh said there was no particular reason why 7 p.m. had been chosen as a start time.

The deputy mayor initially suggested there shouldn't be any restriction on start times, but Councillor Ken Manwell pointed out that people then could start a fire at 12:01 a.m. As a result, the permitted hours to burn were changed to 9 a.m. to midnight.

Mayor Drew Brown asked if the $10 fee would be enough to cover the cost of a home inspection - to check compliance with the new fire code regulations - when an outdoor fireplace inspection was done.

The chief said the fee doesn't cover the cost for a home inspection, but most municipalities don't charge a fee for it. When a home inspection is done, residents will be given educational pamphlets on fire safety.

Christine McCoy said she has nothing against permitting outdoor fires as long as the fires don't interfere with neighbours being comfortable in their own homes.

She said it's not fair if a neighbour is having a fire that becomes smoky and to the point where she has to close her windows in the hot summer heat just to be able to breathe.

Chief Macintosh said if people are burning clean, dry wood - which is required in the proposed bylaw - there shouldn't be a problem with smoke.

Council passed a motion to receive the report and send it back to Chief Macintosh to provide for the time change.