Dorothy Westerman
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Oct 14/05) - Where there is smoke, there is fire and the Niven Lake area has been smouldering for the last few days.

The billowing plumes of thick smoke are not from uncontrolled fires, said deputy fire chief Darcy Hernblad.

A Class 1 burning permit was issued Oct. 4 to RTL Robinson Enterprises Ltd. and burning will continue until the end of the month, he said. The burning will clear the area for Phase V of the Niven Lake subdivision development.

Some residents say it's not so much the smoke that bothers them, but the method used.

Aggie Brockman, who was out walking her dog near the Latham Island causeway Tuesday, said she found the smoke "very unpleasant," but was more upset by the "slash and burn" attempt to rid the area of trees and bushes.

"They're not going to leave any trees or any other natural stuff there," said Brockman, who lives in neighbouring Peace River Flats.

"I'm a little surprised they can burn like that."

Sandra Stirling, who lives across Back Bay on Latham Island, said she was shocked to see large flames shooting into the sky, Tuesday. She thinks the fire was ignited by gasoline - judging by the size and initial intensity of the flames.

"I looked across the bay, and said, 'oh my god!'" said Stirling.

She too thinks a better method could've been found to clear the brush.

"I'm just wondering why they're burning bush when they can chip it to cover the trails," said Stirling.

"That's what the ski club does."

Hernblad said normally, the department will only issue burning permits for a maximum of one week, but some exceptions are made for development zones.

Wet conditions at this time of year make it ideal for burning, he said.

Hernblad said brush piles must be built to limit smoke and wind conditions have to be favourable to prevent smoke from drifting into any nearby neighbourhoods.

"We don't want it bothering people," he said.

"If the conditions aren't favourable, we don't want them burning.

"We make that perfectly clear in our permits."

Dennis Kefalas, manager of public works for the city, said clearing and burning is the first step in development of Niven Lake Phase V.

He said complaints about the smoke usually are directed to the fire department.

"In most cases, the fire chief will come out and inspect it and if there is too much smoke, he will shut the job down and lift the permit so they can't burn any more," Kefalas said.

- with files from Mike W. Bryant