US EditionSaskatchewan firefighter groups concerned over building burn legislation
- On May 13, 2025, Saskatchewan enacted Bill 21, which establishes a pilot program allowing municipal authorities to authorize volunteer firefighters to conduct controlled burns of abandoned municipal buildings for training purposes.
- The legislation responds to rural municipalities' needs but faced firefighter opposition due to health and safety concerns from toxic building materials.
- Volunteer firefighters will conduct live-fire burns as training under protocols still being developed, while some firefighters express concern about environmental and health risks.
- Mike Kwasnica said live burns pose health risks from asbestos and lead-based paint exposure, and Environment Minister Travis Keisig said consultations will occur before the project rollout.
- The pilot program aims to help remove problematic buildings and provide training opportunities, but opponents urge safer, alternative removal methods with full firefighter consultation.
11 Articles
11 Articles
The Peterborough Examiner
Saskatchewan firefighter groups concerned over proposed building burn legislation
REGINA - Saskatchewan firefighters say they are opposed to proposed legislation that would allow local governments to order fire departments to burn down derelict buildings owned by municipalities.
Sask firefighters, NDP concerned about burn building legislation
Some firefighters and the NDP are sounding the alarms about a recent bill to create a pilot project that uses the burning of derelict buildings as a training opportunity for firefighters. The bill passed third reading Tuesday and is just waiting on royal assent, but there are concerns about a lack of consultation by the government on Bill 21 – an amendment to the Construction Codes Act. Saskatchewan NDP Municipal Affairs Shadow Minister Jared Cl…
The union group Firefighters United, which holds 70% of the representation in the Consortium of Firefighters of the Province of Cadiz (CBPC), has demanded the cessation of its president, José Ortiz, who they accuse of a "deficient" management and of not complying with the agreements signed for the reinforcement of the staff. The collective has made public its position by means of a hard communiqué in which it demands the president of the Diputac…
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