Derek Neary
Northern News Services

Fort Simpson (June 28/02) - Dennis Nelner is concerned that smoke from a controlled burn to a bulldozed log house may have been toxic.

Nelner, who lives near the 102 Avenue lot where Nogha Enterprises ignited the blaze, said the wind was shifting last Thursday, blowing the acrid smoke towards his home. In addition to potential health hazards from the smoke, Nelner said the clothes his family had on their line consequently reeked.

"It infuriates me, smelling that," he said.

Lyall Gill, of Nogha Enterprises, said dangerous materials were removed from the demolished house prior to burning.

He added that the closest neighbours were notified.

Gill was unaware of Nelner's complaint but said he would call him and apologize.

"I didn't want to cause any problems for anybody," he said.

Pat Rowe, Fort Simpson's fire chief, confirmed Nogha Enterprises did have the fire department's authorization to burn the materials, mostly wood products.

In terms of potential side effects, Rowe said any fire can release carcinogens, cancer-causing agents.

"To any fire there's a hazard, but with a controlled burn such as this, I think it would have been a minimal hazard if any," he said.

Residents are urged to contact the fire department before a burn, but the department's interest lies mostly in preventing too many fires from occurring at the same time, not inspecting the materials to be incinerated, Rowe acknowledged.

Hauling non-toxic materials to the dump is always an advisable alternative, he added.Gill said at close to $8,000 with tipping fees, the cost of taking the materials to the landfill site was ruled out in this case.

"These little, low-cost housing projects don't have that kind of money attached to them to allow that to happen," said Gill.