Ministry lifts open fire ban
With the coast’s first fall storm, the ban on all open fires set in July has been lifted around the Powell River area.
Coastal Fire Centre rescinded its fire prohibition for the Sunshine Coast and Vancouver Island, Wednesday, September 24.
Campfires, fireworks, tiki torches, backyard fires as well as burn barrels are all included.
Savary Island, with its higher fire risk, has not gone so far as to lift all bans, though.
Campfires for cooking and warmth, no larger than half a metre high by half a metre in diameter, are permitted on the island, but backyard open burning and burn barrels still remain prohibited.
People who light campfires are reminded to have a hand tool, such as a shovel, or at least eight litres of water nearby to fully extinguish the campfire.
City of Powell River allows backyard burning only during the months of November and April with a permit available at city hall.
Category Two fires are fires that burn material smaller than two metres in height and three metres in width, or stubble or grass over an area smaller than 2,000 square metres.
Anyone lighting a Category Three fire must first obtain a burn registration number by calling 1.888.797.1717. A Category Three fire is one that burns material piled more than two metres high or three metres wide; or stubble or grass over more than 2,000 square metres; or more than two piles of any size. Burners must have sufficient personnel, water and tools on hand to stop the fire from escaping, and must comply with air quality control legislation.
To report a wildfire or unattended campfire, people should call 1.800.663.5555 toll-free or *5555 on a cell phone. For the latest information on current wildfire activity, burning restrictions, road closures and air quality advisories, readers can visit online.
