Saskatchewan firefighter groups concerned over building burn legislation

Saskatchewan’s legislature has passed a bill that opens the door for local governments to order firefighters to burn down derelict buildings, a move firefighters say they oppose.Bill 21, the Construction Codes (Derelict Buildings) Amendment Act, received royal assent Tuesday. The legislation lays out the framework for a pilot project where volunteer firefighters conduct burns on municipal-owned buildings as part of training exercises.Mike Kwasnica, president of the Saskatchewan Association of Fire Chiefs, said live burns could pose significant health and safety risks, as many of these buildings contain asbestos, lead-based paint and other toxic materials.