Score one for the s’mores.
Fires will still burn at Sudbury Beach after Penticton council voted Monday to extinguish a committee recommendation to take out a firepit at the secluded Skaha Lake spot.
Coun. Andrew Jakubeit explained the emergency protective services advisory committee recommended council support the removal of the Sudbury amenity after a resident wrote a letter describing how embers fly up into their adjacent yard from the firepit.
Although the committee initially wanted to move the pit to the other end of the beach, Jakubeit explained, “there’s limited access to fire trucks on the site opposite of the beach.”
“They’re been there for three years. I’ve watched them every night. They’re not a problem,” Coun. Mike Pearce said.
Coun. Garry Litke, however, said city crews are constantly deployed to the area to clean up broken glass and garbage.
“I think they’re just an eyesore for our community,” he said. “We have this idyllic image of roasting weenies over the fire, but that’s not how our firepits are being used any more.”
The motion to pull the firepit failed, however, with Pearce and councillors John Vassilaki and Judy Sentes opposed.
Mayor Dan Ashton said the city may need to have more patrols in the area to alleviate concerns among the neighbourhood.