A Duncan man has been fined $6000 for violating open burning regulations in 2023.
Peter Morris was caught burning tree parts and other debris while clearing a property he was selling at the end of Tom Windsor Rd in Duncan.
According to the penalty assessment, Morris had sold the property, and clearing the land and disposing of the debris was part of the sale condition.
North Cowichan Fire was called to the property twice on November 19th, 2023. The next day, Conservation Officer Mark Kissinger also visited the site and saw roughly 20 piles smouldering.
Multiple witnesses stated that the piles filled the “little valley with smoke” and some were still smouldering weeks later.
“Smoke continued to come and go for many days after,” said one witness.
Other witnesses complained of headaches, and difficulty breathing and they confirmed there was no notice of open burning.
