The Ontario Fire Marshall’s office is trying to pour water on a tradition in Bruce County and most rural areas.
The office has called for fire inspections to be made of barns and agricultural buildings that occasionally have barn parties or stag and does.
Huron County sent a letter to Saugeen Shores council looking for support to oppose the move.
Councillors agreed to support Huron County.
Saugeen Shores Fire Chief Phil Eagleson says it would be difficult to enforce fire codes on such buildings and any parties within them because they never know when such an event is being held until perhaps after the fact.
Eagleson says the Fire Marshall’s office would like inspectors to check out the barns and ag buildings for things such as sprinklers, fire separation and so forth which would essentially stop those gatherings in rural buildings.
Vice Deputy Mayor Doug Gowanlock says it would be messing with tradition.
Gowanlock says he doesn’t recall a new barn being built without a barn dance or a pretty good party at the conclusion of the build.
He says he would hate it if the Fire Marshall’s Office stepped in and said that it was not proper to do so.
